Thursday newsletter time: Jacob deGrom was pretty, pretty, pretty good for Rangers

Jeff Wilson April 6, 2023

(AP photo/LM Otero)

Rangers Today continues to steadfastly believe that Jacob deGrom pitched well on Opening Day, even though he was charged with five runs in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and ran into some bad pitching luck.

He definitely pitched well Wednesday afternoon.

The Rangers watched deGrom strike out 11 and allow only one earned run (two overall) in six innings as they snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Orioles with a 5-2 victory. Josh Jung connected for a two-run homer after the Orioles tied the game in a two-run fifth.

But deGrom was the story in his first victory with the Rangers. Orioles hitters didn’t have a chance at times.

The Rangers, meanwhile, did have a chance thanks to deGrom, who retired the first 12 batters before Ryan Mountcastle doubled to start the fifth. Baltimore had another hit and a walk in the fifth and capitalized on a Marcus Semien error to score the first of their two runs.

Will Smith, Jonathan Hernandez and Jose Leclerc, who are firmly entrenched as the three late-inning relievers but not necessarily in that order, finished off the win.

The Rangers finished their season-opening homestand at 4-2 and will be at Wrigley Field this weekend after an off day today. They return home Sunday to open a three-game homestand Monday against the Royals. DeGrom should pitch the second game of that series.

Frisco opens tonight

So do High A Hickory and Low A Down East, and if you’re reading this from one of those areas, go to their season openers. But since most of you are probably reading this from the Metroplex and because the Rangers are enjoying an off day in Chicago, head up to Double A Frisco for the RoughRiders’ lid-lifter.

They have a deal for you.

Right-handers Jack Leiter and Owen White will open the season on the mound tonight and Friday, so Frisco is offering the Jack-O(wen) Pack-O(wen) package for the opening weekend.

You will get a reserved grandstand ticket and a $10 concessions credit for only $22.14, tonight through Saturday. Yes, those are Leiter and White’s jersey numbers.

Tickets are available here. Use the code JACKOPACKO when checking out.

Frisco will begin the defense of its Texas League championship at 6:35 tonight against Amarillo.

ICYMI …

No offense, but I had a better Wednesday than you did. More on that this weekend at Rangers Today, which offers subscriptions for $5.99 a month, $35 for six months or $60 for a year. We’re looking at a big weekend, too. Click here to get started. In the meantime, here’s a refresher on our latest content in case you missed it.

The Sunday Read: Rangers counting on Josh Jung

Friday on the Farm: Finishing off Recliner Nerd’s top 20

Solid opening act

Where the prospects are

Rangers Today Baseball Podcast: Jonathan Ornelas links