Jacob deGrom feels fine after first Rangers bullpen session. Can he catch up by Opening Day?
February 23, 2023
(Texas Rangers/Ben Ludeman)
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Jacob deGrom might very well not be on the mound March 30 when the Rangers open their 2023 campaign against the Phillies.
The Rangers have a history of rewarding pitchers who earn the start the previous season, and it’s really hard to say that left-hander Martin Perez didn’t earn it.
That decision will be announced around mid-March. As of Thursday, deGrom is back on track in case he’s the choice.
If the worst pitcher on the staff gets to start opening day, it would be a tragedy. A guy with a 2.52 career ERA should be starting opening day, not a fluke who got luck and still has a career 4.43 ERA. Even thinking about that possibility infuriates me. Perez should be the number 5. At worst, he should certainly not be in the top 2 and probably top 3 either. deGrom, Eovaldi, Heaney, Gray, and Perez would be my rotation. Switching lefties is absurd in my opinion, and they still can with Heaney before Gray and Perez after him, but I know they are likely to fawn over a failed former top prospect who got lucky last year. I fear he will be number 2 if they are doing the R/L thing.