The homers came after Boston scored twice in the top of the inning off Texas’ bullpen to spoil deGrom’s first start of the season. DeGrom allowed two hits in five shutout innings and was lifted after nearing his pitch count at 73.
“Really good slider and fastball, used the changeup well today,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said of deGrom. “A good start by Jacob. He got us to where we were hoping. Really terrific job today.”
DeGrom, 36, the National League Cy Young Award winner of 2018 and 2019 with the New York Mets, is returning from his second Tommy John surgery in May 2023. His second time through the lineup, he recorded five of his six strikeouts.
“It was nice obviously to be back out there and to go five,” deGrom said. “Build from there. Still got work to do.”
DeGrom, a free agent signee who secured a five-year, $185 million deal heading into the 2023 season, made just his 11th career start with Texas. But as expectations have risen for a club that disappointed last year after winning the World Series in 2023, deGrom was his normal self against a potent Red Sox lineup.
“I wanted to go deeper knowing that the bullpen was taxed last night,” deGrom said in referring to Saturday’s win over the Red Sox.
But his manager, at this point in the season, isn’t focused on length just yet.
“Next game, he could go six innings, maybe seven,” Bochy said. “He’s excited about how he feels. That’s nice to see. He’s an important part of this staff. It’s good to see that guy out there every fifth day.”
The offense made sure deGrom’s exit wasn’t damaging. Langford’s opposite-field homer off rookie Richard Fitts (0-1) barely cleared the wall in the right-field corner. Two batters later, Garcia blasted an 0-2 sweeper into the second deck in left field. Fitts gave up three runs on six hits with no walks over six innings.
The Red Sox scored twice in the sixth inning off Shawn Armstrong (1-0) to take the lead. Wilyer Abreu hit a two-out, 0-2 opposite-field double into the left-field corner to score Kristian Campbell and came around when Rangers third baseman Ezequiel Duran threw low to first base.
Texas took a 1-0 lead in the second, loading the bases on singles on four pitches, followed by Duran’s sacrifice fly — on a sliding grab by Jarren Duran — to score Jake Burger.
Luke Jackson pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save in two opportunities.
The Rangers won three straight after dropping the series opener, and in doing so, they extended the frustration of Red Sox star Rafael Devers. The designated hitter went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and a walk Sunday, and completed the series 0-for-16 with 12 strikeouts.
Last season with the Cardinals, he started 23 games and had a 7-4 record with a 3.84 ERA, throwing 117⅓ innings and striking out 109.
The two-time All-Star has a career record of 143-99 with a 3.74 ERA in 364 games (340 starts), tossing 2,006⅓ innings. He ranks sixth in that category, as well as in wins, among active pitchers. Ahead of him in each category are three sure Hall of Famers — Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw.
Lynn, on Tuesday, made it clear that he may be spotted on the baseball field … just not in a major league game.
“There might be something a little fun around the corner upcoming weekend, so stayed tuned,” Lynn said. “But from Major League Baseball, I am done pitching.”
NEW YORK — Right-hander reliever Adam Ottavino is returning to the New York Yankees, agreeing Tuesday to a one-year contract.
A 39-year-old sidearmer, Ottavino agreed to a minor league contract with Boston on Feb. 18 and exercised his right to be released on March 23 after compiling a 10.80 ERA in five spring training appearances.
He was 2-2 with one save and a 4.34 ERA in 60 relief appearances for the New York Mets last year, stranding 15 of 20 inherited runners.
Ottavino pitched for the Yankees in 2019 and ’20, going 8-8 with a 2.76 ERA in 97 relief appearances. He is 41-43 with 46 saves and a 3.49 ERA in 14 big league seasons with St. Louis, Colorado (2012-18), the Yankees (2019-20), Boston (2021) and the Mets (2022-24).
The Yankees transferred right-hander JT Brubaker to the 60-day injured list and placed closer Devin Williams on the paternity list.
The NHL began handing out the Presidents’ Trophy to the team with the best regular-season record beginning in the 1985-86 campaign. In its history, it has been awarded 37 times to 18 clubs.
Those teams have been anything but a shoo-in to win the Stanley Cup, however. Just two clubs in the salary cap era (since 2005-06) have won the Presidents’ Trophy and hoisted the Stanley Cup: the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings and the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. Two of the past six Presidents’ Trophy winners have lost in the first round.
So, that’s the challenge ahead for whomever claims the trophy this season. At this juncture, it appears to have been whittled down to one of two teams: the Winnipeg Jets (with 106 points through 74 games) or the Washington Capitals (103 through 73).
From an overall strength of schedule standpoint, the Jets have a more difficult route. According to Stathletes, the win percentage of their remaining opponents is 51.3%, which is 12th toughest. Compare that to 47.3% — the 28th toughest — for the Capitals.
Despite that, Stathletes gives Winnipeg the edge, projecting the Jets for 115.9 points and the Caps for 114.7. It appears this race will come down to the very end!
There are less than three weeks left until season’s end on April 17, and we’ll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Points: 87 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 7 Points pace: 95.1 Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 95.5% Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 8 Points pace: 86.4 Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0.5% Tragic number: 8
Points: 62 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 8 Points pace: 68.7 Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Points: 51 Regulation wins: 18 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 8 Points pace: 56.5 Next game: vs. COL (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 98 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 9 Points pace: 110.1 Next game: vs. EDM (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 9 Points pace: 102.2 Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81 Regulation wins: 26 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 8 Points pace: 89.8 Next game: vs. SEA (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 3.3% Tragic number: 11
Points: 72 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 80.9 Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: 4
Points: 68 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 7 Points pace: 74.4 Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Points: 49 Regulation wins: 14 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 55.0 Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Note: An “x” means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An “e” means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.