The Texas Rangers were set to turn the page on a new season with their ace, Jacob deGrom, leading the charge against the Philadelphia Phillies. But just hours before the first pitch at Citizens Bank Park on March 28, 2026, the team was thrown a curveball—deGrom was scratched from his scheduled start due to neck stiffness, a decision made out of caution but one that sent ripples through the Rangers' clubhouse and the wider baseball world.
Manager Skip Schumaker addressed the media, explaining, "He, obviously, didn’t feel great waking up today, tried to throw, and as he’s going through his progression this morning, I just felt like the best thing we can do for him and for us is to push him back." The weather in Philadelphia certainly didn't help: temperatures hovered in the 30s, with wind chills dipping into the 20s, making it one of those brisk spring days that can test even the healthiest of arms. Still, deGrom insisted, "The weather had nothing to do with the decision," clarifying that he experienced difficulty turning his head to the right and felt stiffness while throwing plyo balls earlier that morning.
"Hopefully, it’s just a couple of days and you’re ready to go," deGrom told reporters, reflecting a mix of optimism and frustration. "I threw my bullpen the other day. Felt great. I woke up [Saturday], and I was like, ‘Oh, man,’ my neck’s stiff." For deGrom, now approaching his 38th birthday in June, this isn’t unfamiliar territory—neck and back issues have peppered his storied career, but he’s learned to take them in stride. According to Schumaker, the tentative plan is for deGrom to make his season debut during the Rangers’ ongoing six-game road trip, most likely on Tuesday, March 31, against the Baltimore Orioles. "That’s the plan," Schumaker said. "We’re going to see what this looks like, just because there are a number of different scenarios that could pop up."
With deGrom sidelined, the Rangers turned to left-hander Jacob Latz. Latz, who spent spring training battling for a spot in the rotation, found himself thrust into the limelight. Despite posting a rocky 8.04 ERA and issuing 10 walks over 15 2/3 innings in spring, Latz was the clear choice—he’d been stretched out as a starter and, as Schumaker put it, "We’re very fortunate that we have Latz available today and ready to pitch so quickly after spring training, because he’s built up. A lot of teams don’t have this luxury. I do feel like it’s a luxury, even though it doesn’t feel that way. I get it, not having deGrom today, but having Latz, what he did last year in his starts and it was a real battle in spring training. It very, very easily could have been him getting the fifth spot."
Latz’s role has been a bit of a moving target. He’s pitched mostly out of the bullpen in parts of four seasons with the Rangers, but his ability to handle multiple innings made him an asset early in the season. He ultimately lost the fifth rotation spot to Kumar Rocker, another intriguing arm in the Rangers’ stable, but the team’s flexibility was on full display as they reshuffled their plans. Rocker was originally penciled in to start on Monday, March 30, but with Latz now starting Saturday, the bullpen’s alignment—and Rocker’s role—could shift depending on how the next few games unfold.
This late scratch for deGrom, while disappointing for fans eager to see the two-time Cy Young Award winner back on the mound, is being treated as a precautionary measure. The Rangers’ medical staff and deGrom himself are determined not to risk a more serious injury this early in the campaign. DeGrom’s recent injury history is well-documented: after an injury-plagued end to his tenure with the New York Mets, he joined Texas on a five-year, $185 million deal ahead of the 2023 season. That year, he made just six starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery, though the Rangers won every game he started—a remarkable feat that helped propel them to their first World Series title.
Since then, deGrom has been on a mission to return to his dominant form. The 2025 season marked a significant milestone: he threw over 170 innings for the first time since 2019, racked up 12 wins with a 2.97 ERA, made the All-Star team, and finished eighth in American League Cy Young voting. As of March 28, 2026, deGrom sits just four wins shy of the coveted 100-win milestone, boasting a career record of 96-65. For the Rangers, keeping their ace healthy is paramount, especially with a conditional sixth-year club option for 2028—worth at least $20 million and up to $37 million—already triggered due to time missed while injured.
The broader context for this early-season drama is a Rangers team eager to build on recent success. They enter 2026 with high expectations, their rotation featuring a mix of proven veterans and emerging talents. The bullpen, fortunately, was fully rested heading into Saturday’s game, thanks to light usage on Thursday and an off day Friday. That gave Schumaker some breathing room as he juggled the pitching staff in deGrom’s absence.
For Latz, the opportunity to start—even on short notice—is both a challenge and a chance to prove himself. His spring numbers weren’t pretty, but the Rangers are banking on his experience and versatility. "He didn’t have a great spring, but we have confidence in him based on his work last season as a part-time starter," Schumaker remarked. Latz’s ability to eat innings will be crucial, especially if the game stretches and the bullpen is called upon for extended duty.
Meanwhile, fans and analysts alike are keeping a close eye on deGrom’s status. His health is a storyline that could shape the entire Rangers season. As one observer put it, "If Jacob deGrom is healthy, he is one of the true aces of baseball. He is an undisputed superstar with the ball in his glove on the mound." The hope in Texas is that this neck stiffness is just a minor speed bump—a "minimal roadblock," as Schumaker described it—rather than a sign of deeper trouble.
As the Rangers continue their season-opening road trip, all eyes will be on Baltimore early next week. Will deGrom make his much-anticipated debut? The team remains optimistic, but for now, the situation is fluid. The chess game with the pitching staff continues, and the Rangers are determined to play it safe with their most valuable arm.
For now, the Rangers will rely on their depth, their bullpen, and a bit of luck as they navigate the opening days of the 2026 campaign. The drama may not be what fans hoped for, but it’s baseball—anything can happen, and the story is just getting started.