Texas Rangers star pitcher Jacob deGrom will not take the mound Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies after being sidelined with neck stiffness.
The Rangers have turned to left-handed pitcher Jacob Latz to fill the starting role after their 5-3 defeat to Philadelphia in Thursday’s season opener.
DeGrom, 37, completed his most active season since 2019 last year, taking the mound for 30 starts. His performance earned him recognition as the American League Comeback Player of the Year.
The veteran pitcher’s recent seasons were largely derailed by Tommy John surgery, which kept him off the field for most of 2023 and 2024. The former Cy Young Award winner made a brief return in September 2024 with three short appearances for Texas, before bouncing back with a strong 2025 campaign that included a 12-8 record, 2.97 ERA, and his fifth All-Star Game selection.
Latz, 29, brings solid credentials to his emergency start, having compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.84 ERA across 33 appearances last season, including eight as a starter.
