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Rangers Ace Jacob deGrom Scratched Hours Before Start Due to Neck Injury
The Rangers were forced to adjust their rotation after deGrom was ruled out with neck stiffness, raising early-season concerns about the star pitcher's availability.
Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:51pm
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Just hours before his scheduled start against the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom was scratched due to neck stiffness. Left-hander Jacob Latz will take deGrom's place in the rotation, forcing the Rangers to adjust on short notice. This development carries extra significance given deGrom's injury history and the team's reliance on his frontline pitching to anchor their rotation.
Why it matters
The Rangers built their roster around deGrom's elite talent, so even a minor injury scare raises questions about his availability and durability over the full season. While the team is downplaying this as a short-term issue, deGrom's history of injuries means the margin between precaution and problem is thin, and the team will be closely monitoring his status.
The details
According to reports, deGrom was scratched just hours before his scheduled start against the Phillies due to neck stiffness. Left-hander Jacob Latz will take deGrom's place in the rotation for this game. The Rangers are hopeful deGrom could still make a start later in the current road trip, suggesting they do not view this as a long-term concern.
- On March 28, 2026, deGrom was scratched from his scheduled start against the Phillies due to neck stiffness.
- The Rangers announced the late lineup change just hours before the scheduled first pitch.
The players
Jacob deGrom
A star right-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers who was expected to anchor the team's rotation in 2026 but was scratched from his scheduled start due to neck stiffness.
Jacob Latz
A left-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers who was called upon to make the start in place of the injured deGrom.
Evan Grant
A reporter who first broke the news of deGrom's late scratch from the Rangers' lineup.
What they’re saying
“Just hours before he was scheduled to take the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies, right-hander Jacob deGrom was scratched due to neck stiffness, abruptly pulling him from what was expected to be one of the Rangers' early-season tone-setting matchups.”
— Evan Grant, Reporter
What’s next
The Rangers are hopeful deGrom could still make a start later in the current road trip, suggesting they do not view this as a long-term concern. However, the team will continue to closely monitor deGrom's status and availability given his injury history.
The takeaway
This early-season injury scare for Rangers ace Jacob deGrom highlights the team's reliance on his frontline pitching and the thin margin between precaution and problem when it comes to his durability. While the Rangers are downplaying this as a short-term issue, deGrom's history of injuries means the team will be closely tracking his status and availability as they try to build on their success with their star pitcher anchoring the rotation.
