Texas Rangers Options for Jacob deGrom's Rotation Spot

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is weighing several options to absorb Jacob deGrom's absence in the starting rotation.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers are still mulling their options when it comes to Jacob deGrom’s vacant rotation spot.

Manager Bruce Bochy did not have an update on how the Rangers would approach the opening before Tuesday night’s game with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“Nothing to fill you guys in on at this point,” Bochy said.

The Rangers will start Jon Gray in the series opener against Arizona and Andrew Heaney on Wednesday afternoon. The Rangers are off Thursday before embarking on a 10-day, 10-game road trip at the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics.

The Friday opener with the Angels would be deGrom’s turn in the rotation. He is on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation and isn’t eligible to come off the list until May 14.

deGrom suffered the injury in his last start on Friday. Because of the quirk of this week’s schedule — two off-days with two games sandwiched between — the Rangers have more than one option.

Based on the current rotation and rest, it’s possible that either Nathan Eovaldi or Martín Pérez could start Friday. Eovaldi threw a complete game shutout on Saturday and, if he were selected to start against the Angels, he would have an extra day of rest than normal.

Pérez started on Sunday and threw 70 pitches. The Rangers could pitch him on Friday on his normal five days’ rest.

Doing this would not impact Gray’s or Heaney’s next starts and would allow the Rangers to skip deGrom’s spot in the rotation. The Rangers would not need a new starter until May 9 in Seattle.

Another option is to take someone out of the bullpen — likely either Dane Dunning or Cole Ragans — and start them Friday.

It’s possible the decision isn’t made until after this two-game series because Bochy may need to use either, or both, in relief.

“We’re looking at how it’s going to affect the club on both the bullpen side and the starting side,” Bochy said.

When the Rangers moved deGrom to the IL, they called up Yerry Rodriguez, who pitched in relief Sunday. So they’re fully stocked in the bullpen if they slide either Dunning or Ragans into the rotation.

Selecting Dunning seems like the more likely option, but the Rangers would miss his work in the bullpen. He’s 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA this season and claimed both of his wins in relief of deGrom. Only Boston Red Sox reliever Josh Winckowski has thrown more innings out of the bullpen (21 1/3) entering Tuesday’s action than Dunning (20 1/3).

Dunning has been the Rangers’ best option and sliding him into the rotation takes that off the table for Bochy.

“He’s been doing a great job there,” Bochy said.

Ragans — like Dunning was a starter last season — is 2-1 with a 5.91 ERA and has given up seven earned runs in his last three outings.

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