The Texas Rangers are counting on their ace, Jacob deGrom, to regain his strong early-season form as he pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night in Arlington, Texas. This crucial middle game of a three-game interleague series presents an opportunity for deGrom and the Rangers to even the series after a tough opening loss. The Phillies will counter with left-hander Jesus Luzardo, making for a key pitching duel that could shape the momentum for both teams.

Phillies’ Strong Start Puts Pressure on Rangers

Philadelphia dominated the first game of the series on Friday, securing a 9-1 victory. Trea Turner fueled the Phillies’ offense with a home run and five RBIs, while Brandon Marsh and Kyle Schwarber each added home runs of their own. Cristopher Sanchez contributed a solid performance on the mound by pitching six innings, allowing just six hits and striking out six batters. The Phillies have been in good form, winning four of their last five games, whereas the Rangers have dropped their previous two contests.

deGrom’s Recent Struggles Highlight Need for Improvement

Jacob deGrom has endured difficulties in his last two starts, giving up a total of 10 runs over 10 1/3 innings, which contributed to defeats at the hands of the Angels and Mariners on the road. His most recent appearance was particularly challenging; he allowed five runs on four hits, including three home runs, and issued three walks. Despite these setbacks, deGrom hit a personal milestone by recording his 1,800th career strikeout during the Seattle game, setting a <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>Major League Baseball record for the fastest to reach that total in both games and innings pitched.

That doesn’t matter — we needed to win,

deGrom said.

I came out and threw the ball terribly. It’s on me. We lost because I did a terrible job once again. So we’ve gotta figure it out. If I knew [the issue], I’d fix it — I’m pretty angry with that. I’ve gotta make quality pitches. I can’t walk guys with two outs, and I gotta stop throwing the ball down the middle.

—Jacob deGrom

Over his last five starts, deGrom has managed only one win, and his ERA has risen from 2.13 on July 1 to its current 2.80. Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged the difficulties while emphasizing the need to move forward.

I’ll say that it was a tough day for Jacob,

Bochy said.

He was off with this command; that was evident. There’s no use dwelling on it.

—Bruce Bochy

DeGrom has logged 128 2/3 innings this season over 22 starts, marking his highest workload since 2019 with the Mets when he last completed a full season. This total surpasses the combined innings of his previous three injury-shortened campaigns. Historically, deGrom has performed well against Philadelphia, boasting a 9-1 record with a 2.47 ERA across 21 career appearances and 123 2/3 innings.

Jesus Luzardo Brings Momentum into Start Against Rangers

Opposing deGrom, Jesus Luzardo has won his last two starts and holds a 3-0 record over his previous five appearances, allowing 13 runs in nearly 30 innings during that span. In his latest outing, Luzardo pitched six innings against Baltimore in a 13-3 Phillies victory, giving up three runs on five hits and striking out seven. He also allowed two home runs in that game but did not issue a walk.

You have to find a way to keep the team in the game,

Luzardo said.

I thought me and (Phillies catcher) J.T. (Realmuto) did a good job of that. I was grateful we could make the adjustments and kind of change the game plan. Anytime you can get a quality start and a win, that’s a great night.

—Jesus Luzardo

Luzardo has a 0-2 record and a 3.43 ERA in five career games against the Rangers, all from his time pitching for Miami before joining Philadelphia. His last outing against Texas was in 2023, when he threw 5 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and striking out eight batters in a 6-2 loss.

Series Outlook and Stakes for Rangers and Phillies

With Philadelphia having claimed the series opener decisively, the Rangers are eager for Jacob deGrom to rebound and help swing the series back in their favor. The outcome of tonight’s game will play a vital role in shaping the momentum for the final matchup in this interleague series, with both teams looking to gain a crucial advantage. For deGrom, a strong performance is notably important as he battles recent inconsistencies and strives to lead Texas to a needed victory.