Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom was scratched from Saturday’s start in Philadelphia due to neck stiffness.
Left-hander Jacob Latz will make the start for the Rangers, who dropped a 5-3 decision to the Phillies in Thursday’s season opener.
“Woke up this morning and the right side of my neck was real stiff,” deGrom told reporters Saturday. “… Hopefully it’s just a couple days and be ready to go.”
The 37-year-old deGrom is coming off a season in which he made 30 starts for the first time since 2019. He was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year for his efforts.
He missed most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons after Tommy John surgery. The two-time Cy Young Award winner returned to make three brief starts for Texas in September 2024, then went 12-8 with a 2.97 ERA last year while earning his fifth career All-Star selection.
Latz, 29, posted a 2-0 record with a 2.84 ERA in 33 appearances (eight starts) last season.
–Field Level Media
