Jacob deGrom stepped onto the mound Monday night looking to keep the Texas Rangers in the hunt, but the Toronto Blue Jays had other plans. For the first time in his 229-game MLB career, the two-time Cy Young winner didn’t record a single strikeout, a wild stat that had even deGrom himself surprised. “I actually didn’t know that,” he said postgame, per ESPN, after the Rangers fell 2-1 in a tight pitcher’s duel. The sports card above lays it out: 5.1 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and a loss—his first in seven starts. Not exactly the outing you expect from a guy known for making hitters look silly, but don’t let the box score fool you. DeGrom was battling out there, even if it wasn’t his sharpest night.
The Blue Jays came out swinging early, putting balls in play and keeping deGrom on his toes. “They were aggressive early,” he noted, thinking it might let him go deep into the game. “I was like, oh man, I might be able to go deep in this game … let’s see how deep I can go and try to keep them off the board.” But things got tricky. DeGrom admitted he was “fighting myself,” yanking pitches and struggling with command, which led to a couple of walks and an inefficient outing. By the time Rangers manager Bruce Bochy pulled him after another high-pitch-count start—deGrom’s been hitting 90-plus pitches regularly—he’d given Toronto just enough to sneak away with the win.
Bochy tipped his cap to both pitchers. “It’s what we thought this game would be, a tight ballgame, two really, really good pitchers going out there,” he said. “Jacob was good, their guy was really good.” That’s the kind of respect you hear when aces duel, even if the Rangers came up short. DeGrom’s been a workhorse, but Monday’s start showed he’s still ironing out some kinks. “I feel good,” he said. “I was just fighting myself today, flying open. It’s something I’ve been working on almost every start. And today, it kind of took a step in the wrong direction.” That slider he leans on? It wasn’t quite there, and Toronto’s hitters made him pay.
The Rangers, meanwhile, are in a rough patch. They’ve dropped eight of their last ten games, including seven of their last eight, and injuries have taken a toll. With the team hunting for a reliable closer—Kumar Rocker’s name is floating around as a possibility—Texas is still within striking distance, just five games back in the AL West. That’s close enough to keep hope alive, and with the MLB trade deadline approaching, the front office might be ready to make a splash to bolster this roster. Despite the skid, deGrom’s been a bright spot, rocking a 4-2 record and a 2.42 ERA this season, as the sports card above shows. Even on an off night, he’s keeping games winnable.
Monday’s loss stings, but it’s the kind of game that reminds you how fine the margins are in baseball. DeGrom didn’t have his best stuff, but he still gave the Rangers a chance, holding Toronto to two runs. The Blue Jays just played the better game, capitalizing on every mistake. Now, with another matchup against Toronto on Tuesday, Texas has a chance to flip the script. If deGrom’s slider is back on point and the bats wake up, the Rangers could start clawing their way back. For a team that’s been through the wringer, it’s all about finding that spark—and deGrom, even on a no-strikeout night, is still the kind of ace who can lead the charge.
