Orioles Seek Offensive Spark Against Rangers' deGrom

Baltimore looks to get bats going against two-time Cy Young winner in second game of series

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:22pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, geometric shapes and colors, capturing the dynamic energy of a baseball game without any recognizable figures or details.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between the struggling Orioles offense and the dominant Rangers ace deGrom.Baltimore Today

The Baltimore Orioles are searching for a way to jumpstart their struggling offense as they take on the Texas Rangers and two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom on Tuesday night. The Orioles have only scored more than two runs once in their first four games, while the Rangers have been more consistent at the plate, scoring 21 runs so far this season.

Why it matters

The Orioles' slow start offensively has put pressure on their pitching staff, and they'll need to find a way to generate more runs if they want to compete in the AL East. Meanwhile, the Rangers are hoping deGrom can continue his dominance over Baltimore, as he's 5-0 with a 1.34 ERA in five career starts against the Orioles.

The details

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said the team is still searching for the right lineup combinations to get the offense going, and he plans to keep players ready with frequent lineup changes. The Rangers, meanwhile, are unsure if deGrom will make the start as he's been dealing with neck stiffness, but manager Skip Schumaker said he's making progress. Orioles starter Zach Eflin will be making his first regular-season appearance since July 2025 after missing the end of last season due to back surgery.

  • deGrom was scratched from a start on Saturday in Philadelphia due to the neck issue.
  • Eflin last pitched in a regular-season game on July 28, 2025 before undergoing back surgery.

The players

Jacob deGrom

A two-time Cy Young Award winner who is expected to start for the Texas Rangers, though his status is uncertain due to a recent neck injury.

Craig Albernaz

The first-year manager of the Baltimore Orioles, who is looking to find the right lineup combinations to jumpstart his team's struggling offense.

Skip Schumaker

The manager of the Texas Rangers, who is monitoring deGrom's progress and will make a decision on his starter for Tuesday's game.

Zach Eflin

The Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher, who will be making his first regular-season appearance since July 2025 after missing the end of last season due to back surgery.

Josh Jung

The Texas Rangers third baseman who is off to a slow start, going 0-for-17 with seven strikeouts so far this season.

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What they’re saying

“We did have some chances, but obviously couldn't get the hit. We did a good job battling, got good pitches to hit, but then we just couldn't cash in when we needed to. The bats are still there, it's just we're just a click off right now. It's something once our offense gets going, I think our offense is really going to take off.”

— Craig Albernaz, Orioles Manager

“Another good day (Monday). And we'll see how he feels (Tuesday).”

— Skip Schumaker, Rangers Manager

“It's the first start of the season (so) let's not do something where it's multiple weeks.”

— Jacob deGrom

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Orioles' early offensive struggles highlight the importance of consistent run production, especially against top-tier pitchers like deGrom. If Baltimore can't find a way to get their bats going, it could be a long season for the team as they try to compete in the tough AL East.