Rangers Look to Stay Hot as deGrom Makes 2026 Debut vs. Orioles

Texas aims to continue strong start with ace on the mound against struggling Baltimore lineup

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:36pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in vibrant colors depicting the action and energy of a baseball game, with sharp, overlapping planes representing the dynamic between the teams' offenses and pitching.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between the Rangers' powerful left-handed lineup and the Orioles' struggling right-handed starter.Surprise Today

After being scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday, Rangers ace Jacob deGrom is expected to make his 2026 debut tonight as Texas continues its series against the Baltimore Orioles. The Rangers are looking to build on their 4-1 start, while the Orioles are hoping to get their offense going against the veteran right-hander.

Why it matters

This matchup features two pitchers with injury histories - deGrom for the Rangers and Zach Eflin for the Orioles - looking to prove they can stay healthy and effective this season. The Rangers' left-handed bats, led by Corey Seager and Brandon Nimmo, will also be tested against Eflin, who struggled mightily against lefties in 2025.

The details

deGrom, 37, is coming off a solid 2025 campaign in which he made 30 starts for the Rangers, throwing 172.2 innings with a 2.97 ERA. The right-hander will look to pick up where he left off and help Texas continue its strong start to the season. Eflin, on the other hand, struggled mightily in 2025, posting a 5.93 ERA and allowing 2.27 home runs per nine innings. Left-handed hitters in particular had success against Eflin, slashing .316/.339/.649 with a .413 wOBA.

  • deGrom was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • deGrom is expected to make his 2026 debut tonight, March 31, 2026, against the Orioles.

The players

Jacob deGrom

A 37-year-old right-handed starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers. deGrom is a veteran ace who is looking to build on a solid 2025 season in which he made 30 starts and threw 172.2 innings with a 2.97 ERA.

Zach Eflin

A right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Eflin struggled mightily in 2025, posting a 5.93 ERA and allowing 2.27 home runs per nine innings. Left-handed hitters in particular had success against Eflin last season.

Corey Seager

A left-handed hitting shortstop for the Texas Rangers. Seager is off to a hot start in 2026, already posting a 164 wRC+ in his first 19 plate appearances.

Brandon Nimmo

A left-handed hitting outfielder for the Texas Rangers. Nimmo is also off to a strong start, slashing .353/.421/.529 in his first four games with the team.

Evan Carter

A left-handed hitting outfielder for the Texas Rangers. Carter is healthy to start the 2026 season and is boasting a .400 expected wOBA.

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What they’re saying

“If deGrom's able to pitch, he's elite.”

— Garion Thorne, Author

What’s next

The Rangers will look to build on their 4-1 start to the season, while the Orioles will hope to get their offense going against deGrom in his 2026 debut.

The takeaway

This matchup features two pitchers with injury histories looking to prove they can stay healthy and effective this season. The Rangers' left-handed bats, led by Corey Seager and Brandon Nimmo, will be a key factor against Orioles starter Zach Eflin, who struggled mightily against lefties in 2025.