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Rangers Rotation Poised to Be MLB's Best in 2026
Addition of MacKenzie Gore boosts Texas pitching staff that led league in ERA in 2025.
Jan. 30, 2026 at 11:07am
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The Texas Rangers may have one of the best starting rotations in baseball heading into the 2026 season. Led by ace Jacob deGrom and veteran Nathan Eovaldi, the Rangers' rotation posted a league-best 3.47 ERA in 2025. The addition of former All-Star MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals further strengthens the group, which also features rising young starters Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker.
Why it matters
The Rangers' deep and talented rotation could be the key to the team's playoff hopes in 2026. After missing the postseason in recent years, the Rangers are banking on their pitching staff to carry them back to the October baseball. If the rotation can replicate or build upon its 2025 success, the Rangers could emerge as a top contender in the American League.
The details
Jacob deGrom headlined the Rangers' rotation in 2025, earning an All-Star nod after posting a 2.97 ERA with 185 strikeouts. Nathan Eovaldi continued his strong play, leading the staff with a 4.3 WAR despite battling injuries that limited him to 130 innings. Young righty Jack Leiter took a step forward in his second MLB season, improving his ERA from 8.83 to 3.86. The Rangers are hoping for a similar progression from 2022 first-round pick Kumar Rocker, who struggled in his MLB debut last year. The key addition is MacKenzie Gore, who the Rangers acquired from the Nationals. Gore was an All-Star in 2025 but faded in the second half, something the Rangers hope to avoid by slotting him in behind deGrom and Eovaldi.
- The Rangers led MLB with a 3.47 team ERA in the 2025 season.
- Jacob deGrom earned an All-Star selection in 2025 after posting a 2.97 ERA and 185 strikeouts.
- Nathan Eovaldi led the Rangers' staff with a 4.3 WAR in 2025 despite missing time due to injuries.
The players
Jacob deGrom
The Rangers' ace who earned an All-Star nod in 2025 after posting a 2.97 ERA and 185 strikeouts.
Nathan Eovaldi
The veteran right-hander led the Rangers' pitching staff with a 4.3 WAR in 2025 despite battling injuries.
Jack Leiter
The young righty from Vanderbilt took a big step forward in his second MLB season, improving his ERA from 8.83 to 3.86.
MacKenzie Gore
The former All-Star was acquired by the Rangers from the Nationals and is expected to slot into the middle of their rotation in 2026.
Kumar Rocker
The Rangers' 2022 first-round draft pick struggled in his MLB debut last season, posting a 5.74 ERA, but the team believes he can figure things out.
What’s next
The Rangers will look to MacKenzie Gore to build on his 2025 All-Star campaign and avoid the second-half fade that plagued him with the Nationals. The final spot in the rotation is up for grabs between Jacob Latz and Kumar Rocker, with the team hoping Rocker can take a step forward after a tough MLB debut.
The takeaway
The Rangers' deep and talented rotation, led by Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi and bolstered by the addition of MacKenzie Gore, could be the key to the team's playoff hopes in 2026 as they look to return to the postseason for the first time in several years.
