Rangers Scratch Jacob deGrom From Start Against Phillies With Sore Neck

Cy Young winner deGrom will miss Saturday's game due to neck stiffness.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:25pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's wind-up and delivery broken down into overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange, conveying the complex challenges of managing an injured star player.The Rangers' cautious handling of ace Jacob deGrom's health reflects the team's commitment to defending its World Series title.Philadelphia Today

The Texas Rangers have scratched two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom from his scheduled start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday due to neck stiffness. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said he expects deGrom to start on Tuesday or Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles instead.

Why it matters

deGrom's health has been a concern since his final years with the New York Mets, and the Rangers will be cautious with their prized offseason acquisition as they look to defend their World Series title from 2023.

The details

The Rangers gave left-hander Jacob Latz the start against the Phillies instead of deGrom. Latz has pitched mostly out of the bullpen in parts of four seasons with the Rangers after failing to win a spot in the rotation out of spring training.

  • deGrom was scheduled to start against the Phillies on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • deGrom is expected to start against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, April 1, 2026 or Wednesday, April 2, 2026.

The players

Jacob deGrom

A two-time Cy Young Award winner who signed a $185 million, five-year deal with the Texas Rangers in free agency after the 2022 season. He missed most of the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery but helped the Rangers win the World Series in the games he did play.

Skip Schumaker

The manager of the Texas Rangers.

Jacob Latz

A left-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers who has pitched mostly out of the bullpen in parts of four seasons with the team.

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What they’re saying

“I expected deGrom to start Tuesday or Wednesday on the road against the Baltimore Orioles.”

— Skip Schumaker, Rangers Manager

What’s next

The Rangers will monitor deGrom's recovery and determine if he is ready to start against the Orioles on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The takeaway

The Rangers are taking a cautious approach with deGrom's health as they look to defend their World Series title, knowing his injury history from his final years with the Mets. Keeping their ace healthy will be crucial to their chances of repeating as champions.