Texas Rangers Ace Jacob deGrom 'Smart' to Exit Royals Game Early
The concern felt by legions of Texas Rangers fans when Jacob deGrom left Monday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals early apparently isn’t felt by the club’s ace.
deGrom said he’s “not too concerned” by the right wrist soreness that he starting feeling as early as his pregame warmup and ended his outing after four hitless innings. In only the right-hander’s fourth start for the franchise – and first on the road – the prudent move was to call it a night.
The Rangers (10-6) won 4-0.
“Once it wasn’t loosening up, I said let’s not do anything dumb where I end up changing my mechanics,” deGrom said, according to MLB.com. “That was the thought process behind it. I think we made the smart move. I’m not too concerned. I’d like to think I’m going to make my next [start] but we’ll see how it is [Tuesday].”
The Rangers will continue to evaluate deGrom’s wrist.
deGrom said the soreness didn’t alter the way he was throwing, and he was off to a stellar start. In addition to not allowing a hit, deGrom struck out five and walked one in 58 pitches.
“I thought it was going to loosen up and it actually tightened up as the game went on,” deGrom said. “So, playing it smart. Could I have kept going? Probably. But it was lingering and got a little worse.”
Dane Dunning pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings after replacing deGrom to start the fifth. That earned Dunning (1-0) his first win of the season, which he’s started without giving up a run in 15 1/3 innings.
deGrom said Dunning “did a great job of picking us up. Hats off to him.”
The next start for deGrom would be Sunday in the series finale against the Oakland Athletics.
The Rangers and Royals continue the series Tuesday night at 6:40 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium. Nathan Eovaldi (1-2. 6.32) is on the mound for Texas, while Brad Keller (2-1, 2.12) goes for Kansas City.
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