Jacob deGrom to Miss Sunday's Start With Glute Strain
Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (glute) will not make his scheduled start on Sunday in the series finale against the division-rival Houston Astros due to a mild left-glute strain, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Manager Skip Schumaker said he's unsure if deGrom will be available "right away" after next week's All-Star break. The Rangers haven't placed the veteran starting pitcher on the injured list yet, but it could be inevitable, especially if he's not ready to take his turn in the rotation coming out of the All-Star break. The 38-year-old two-time Cy Young winner and five-time All-Star still has high-end strikeout potential for fantasy managers -- he has a 30.4% strikeout rate in 2026 -- but durability is part of the risk. The 13-year veteran will close out the first half with a 7-5 record, 3.49 ERA (3.41 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 122 strikeouts and 22 walks in 100 2/3 innings pitched across his 18 starts. Fantasy managers who have deGrom rostered might have to be patient to begin the second half of 2026, but at least it's not an arm injury.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Nathan Eovaldi Finishes First Half Strong With 10 K's Against Angels
It wasn't the prettiest outing, but Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi finished the first half of his 2026 season strong in a 7-6 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Globe Life Field. Eovaldi allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out a season-high 10 batters in six innings for a no-decision. Eovaldi generated 23 swings and misses for his 10th quality start of the season. The 36-year-old veteran and two-time All-Star has allowed three earned runs or fewer in five straight starts going into next week's All-Star break, and he now holds a 9-7 record, 4.04 ERA (4.04 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with 120 strikeouts and 26 walks in 111 1/3 innings pitched across his 18 starts in 2026 in his 15th year in the big leagues. Durability is a concern for Eovaldi at his age, but when healthy, he has a stable floor, and he currently ranks 12th in baseball with 120 strikeouts. Eovaldi is sporting a solid 25.9% strikeout rate and 5.6% walk rate.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Kumar Rocker's Start Pushed Back to Sunday
Texas Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker will have his start this weekend pushed back from Saturday to Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Right-hander Cal Quantrill will make the start on the Fourth of July on Saturday against Detroit at Globe Life Field. Sunday will be the second time this year that Rocker has faced the Tigers. In his first meeting against them on the road on May 2, he allowed five earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out two in only two innings in his shortest start of the year. The 26-year-old former third overall pick in 2022 is hoping for a much better result this time around after allowing only two earned runs with one walk and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings in his last two outings against the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays. Rocker has gone 2-6 with a 3.83 ERA (3.90 FIP) and 1.34 WHIP with a 70:31 K:BB in 80 frames across 16 outings (14 starts) in his third year with Texas. He'll be in the streaming conversation on Sunday in a plus matchup against the Tigers.
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Jacob deGrom's Buy-Low Window May be Closing Fast
Texas Rangers veteran right-hander Jacob deGrom had a rough month of May, giving up 18 earned runs on 25 hits (nine home runs) for a 5.72 ERA (5.65 FIP) while walking five and striking out 30 across 28 1/3 innings and five starts. He opened the year by giving up just seven earned runs with seven walks and 40 strikeouts in 31 1/3 frames over his first six starts. Outside of a six-run meltdown on June 19 against the San Diego Padres, deGrom turned things around in June, giving up two runs or fewer in five of his six starts. The 38-year-old gave up just two earned runs with no walks and nine strikeouts over seven innings in his seventh win of the year in his most recent outing on June 30 against the Cleveland Guardians. deGrom has at least eight K's in four of his last six starts, and his arrow is pointing back up now that we're in July. Injuries should always have fantasy managers hesitant to buy, but you can't argue with his 30.3% strikeout rate (93rd percentile) and whiff rate in the 96th percentile. He also has a good upcoming matchup against the Detroit Tigers, a team that ranks 20th in MLB in OPS (.710).
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jack Leiter has Ankle Surgery, Rangers Expect him Back This Year
Texas Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter (ankle) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle to remove a loose body on Tuesday morning, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. The surgery was performed by Dr. Ned Amendola at Duke University. The Rangers expect Leiter to return before the end of the 2026 season, but his timeline for a return is fluid. It's an injury that Leiter had been pitching through for most of this year. The 26-year-old former second overall pick in 2021 out of Vanderbilt University struggled to a 3-7 record with a 5.29 ERA (4.76 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 35 walks in 80 innings pitched across his 15 starts for Texas before landing on the 15-day injured list. With no timetable for a return in the second half of the season, fantasy managers in deep mixed leagues shouldn't feel compelled to hold onto him. Right now, Leiter is rostered in only 22% of Yahoo leagues. Considering his draft pedigree, Leiter has been a bust early in his MLB career with a 13-20 record, 4.95 ERA (4.53 FIP), 1.38 WHIP, 22.3% strikeout rate, and 10.1% walk rate in 267 1/3 innings over 53 appearances (50 starts) at the major-league level.
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Jack Leiter Placed on 15-Day Injured List with Ankle Impingement
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter (ankle) has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a posterior impingement in his right ankle. The 26-year-old has been pitching through ankle issues since late April. However, his performance has taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks, as he's allowed 15 earned runs across his last 13 2/3 innings pitched (three starts). Leiter's overall line for the year is unimpressive, as he's recorded a 3-7 record with a 5.29 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts across 80 innings (15 starts). Still, working around discomfort in his ankle may be a contributing factor in Leiter's struggles. If he's able to make a full recovery, Leiter carries some strikeout upside for fantasy managers upon his return. Rangers right-hander Cal Quantrill could be the favorite to assume Leiter's role in the starting rotation while Leiter is sidelined.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nathan Eovaldi to Start Series Finale Against Padres
Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (knee) will start Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field. Eovaldi was scratched from his start on Saturday against San Diego with soreness in his left knee, but it turned out to be a pretty minor issue. The 36-year-old veteran will head into Sunday's start with a 6-7 record, 4.23 ERA (4.66 FIP), and 1.17 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 21 walks in 87 1/3 innings pitched across 14 starts. The two-time All-Star has allowed at least three earned runs in each of his last five starts while also giving up 19 earned runs on 30 hits (seven home runs) with 28 strikeouts and nine walks in 32 2/3 innings pitched for a 5.23 ERA (5.18 FIP) over that span. Eovaldi's strikeout rate has also fallen from 26% last year to 22.9% in 2026. However, with a great matchup against the punchless Padres' lineup, Eovaldi has a great chance to bounce back on Sunday, even though he's coming off an injury scare.
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Nathan Eovaldi Scratched From Saturday's Start With Knee Soreness
Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (knee) has been scratched from Saturday's start at Globe Life Field against the visiting San Diego Padres with "a little" soreness in his left knee, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Left-hander MacKenzie Gore will make the start in Eovaldi's place against his former team. It's unclear as of now if Eovaldi will be a candidate for the injured list or if he'll just have to skip one turn through Texas' rotation. The 36-year-old veteran has gone 6-7 this year with a 4.23 ERA (4.66 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 21 walks in 87 1/3 innings pitched across his 14 starts in his 15th year in the big leagues. Given Eovaldi's lengthy history of injuries, we would not be surprised if he lands on the IL, even if the Rangers are currently saying it's a minor knee injury. Eovaldi's strikeout rate has dropped to 22.9%, but the two-time All-Star is still throwing plenty of strikes and is rostered in over 90% of Yahoo leagues. Stay tuned for more information about when he might be ready to make his next start.
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
MacKenzie Gore Fans a Season-High 10 Hitters in Loss to Twins
Texas Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore was saddled with his sixth loss of the season in the 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field on Monday night, but he also had a season-high 10 strikeouts. Gore allowed four earned runs on four hits (two homers) while walking two. The 27-year-old southpaw was bit by the long ball early in this one, with most of the damage coming on a three-run homer off the bat of first baseman Josh Bell in the first inning. In his three starts in June, Gore has surrendered 10 earned runs on 21 hits (two homers) while walking eight and striking out 21 in 16 2/3 innings pitched. He's now 4-6 with a 4.27 ERA (3.65 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP with 86 strikeouts and 35 walks in 78 innings over his 15 starts in his first season with the Rangers. It's been an up-and-down year for Gore in 2026, but fantasy managers should consider him a strong streaming option for his upcoming matchup against his former team, the San Diego Padres. The Padres currently rank last in MLB in OPS at .652.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jacob deGrom a Risky Buy-Low Candidate
Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom looked like his previous Cy Young self in April, going 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA (2.84 FIP), 33 strikeouts, and only seven walks in 26 2/3 innings over his five starts. Although he bounced back on Wednesday by allowing just two earned runs in six innings in a no-decision against the Houston Astros, it was tough sledding for the 37-year-old veteran in May, as he went 1-3 with a 5.72 ERA (5.61 FIP), 30 strikeouts, five walks, and nine home runs allowed in 28 1/3 frames across five starts. Overall, the two-time Cy Young winner has gone 3-4 with a 3.77 ERA (4.16 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 70 strikeouts, 12 walks, and a league-high 13 home runs allowed in 59 2/3 innings across 11 starts in his fourth year in Texas. deGrom surely isn't as bad as his numbers would suggest in May, but given his long track record of injuries, buying low on the veteran hurler won't be very attractive to risk-averse fantasy managers. In his three full seasons with the Rangers, deGrom has exceeded 100 innings just once, and he combined for 42 innings in the other two seasons.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
MacKenzie Gore Throws on Friday, Up in the Air for Next Start
Texas Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore (lat) will be re-evaluated after playing catch on Friday, according to MLB.com. No official announcement has been made about his next scheduled start. Gore is currently considered day-to-day after leaving his last start on Monday against the Colorado Rockies with left-lat tightness. However, an MRI exam came back negative, and reports have suggested that he could make his next turn in Texas' rotation for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. The 27-year-old southpaw was a first-time All-Star in 2025 with the Washington Nationals, but he has been hard to trust in fantasy so far in his first year with the Rangers, as he's gone 3-4 with a career-high 4.78 ERA (3.97 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 24 walks in 49 innings pitched across 10 starts. Typically, we wouldn't recommend a struggling pitcher coming off an injury in fantasy, but if he makes his start on Sunday, he'll be hard to ignore in starting lineups against an Angels team with a .693 OPS.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
MacKenzie Gore "Trending" Toward Making his Next Start on Sunday
Imaging on Texas Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore's lat came back clean, and he's "trending" toward making his next scheduled start on Sunday in Anaheim against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. The 27-year-old southpaw was pulled after just one inning in his latest start on Monday versus the Colorado Rockies when his lat tightened up on him, but it looks like he has avoided anything serious, and he shouldn't have to miss a turn through Texas' starting rotation. The bad news is that Gore has had a rough go of it in his first year with the Rangers, giving up two more earned runs on Monday. He is sporting a 3-4 record with a 4.78 ERA (3.99 FIP), 1.33 WHIP, and 55:24 K:BB in 49 innings across his first 10 starts in 2026. Gore will be a riskier fantasy option this weekend in Anaheim, but it will be hard to ignore him in starting lineups because of the matchup. The Angels were nearly no-hit by A's starter J.T. Ginn a few days ago, and they currently rank 25th in baseball with a .686 OPS. The Angels also lead the league with 476 strikeouts.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
MacKenzie Gore Leaves Monday's Start With Lat Tightness
Texas Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore (lat) left his start on Monday early against the Colorado Rockies with left-lat tightness, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Before leaving due to injury, Gore only went one inning, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out two at hitter-friendly Coors Field in Denver. Until we know more about the lefty's condition, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. The 27-year-old former third overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2017 has struggled so far in his first year in Texas, as he entered his start on Monday against Colorado with a 3-3 record, 4.50 ERA (3.95 FIP), and 1.25 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and 22 starts in 48 innings over his nine starts. It has especially been disappointing after he was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his final campaign with the Washington Nationals, despite going 5-15. He struck out a career-high 185 hitters in 159 2/3 innings across his 30 starts. Gore is rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues and needs to be held until we know more about the severity of his injury. UPDATE: Manager Skip Schumaker said that Gore will most likely undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Nathan Eovaldi Playing Catch on Wednesday
Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (side) was seen playing catch in the outfield on Wednesday, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. It's a good sign after the Rangers scratched Eovaldi from his scheduled start on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks with left-side tightness. Eovaldi is currently considered day-to-day and could still make his next turn in the starting rotation this weekend in a plus matchup against the Houston Astros if he can make his normal between-starts bullpen this week. The 36-year-old veteran hurler has a history of side/oblique issues, but fantasy managers should start him this weekend if he makes a start against the struggling Astros. Through his first eight starts of the 2026 campaign in his 15th year in the big leagues, Eovaldi is 4-4 with a 4.15 ERA (4.69 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and only 10 walks across 47 2/3 innings pitched. After a rough start on April 24 against the A's, in which he gave up a season-high six earned runs in six innings, Eovaldi has allowed just one earned run in 15 innings over his last two starts with 15 combined K's. UPDATE: Eovaldi threw a bullpen on Wednesday and said he feels fine. He thinks he is good to pitch on Sunday in Houston against the Astros.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Nathan Eovaldi Considered Day-to-Day With Side Discomfort
Updating a previous report, Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (side) is considered day-to-day with left-side discomfort, which is good news, per Jeff Wilson of All City DLLS. Eovaldi was scratched from his scheduled start on Monday night versus the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, and there's no word on when he will pitch next. However, it appears as if the Rangers avoided a big injury to one of their best starting arms. The 36-year-old veteran was sent for imaging after he first started feeling something in the morning. Eovaldi has a history with side/oblique issues, but for now, it looks like he could avoid a trip to the injured list. It's unclear right now when he might make his next start, so fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday for an update. Through his first eight starts in 2026 in his fourth year with the Rangers and 15th year in the big leagues, Eovaldi has gone 4-4 with a 4.15 ERA (4.69 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and 10 walks in 47 2/3 innings pitched.
Source: All City DLLS - Jeff Wilson
Source: All City DLLS - Jeff Wilson
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