Angels 7, Rangers 0
- Well that was pretty terrible.
- Jacob deGrom left the game after two innings with triceps soreness. That’ll ruin your night right there, regardless of whatever else happened.
- deGrom said afterwards he couldn’t get his triceps loose warming up for the second inning, that he hadn’t felt that before but that he hoped it was no big deal and he’d make his next start.
- I hope so, too.
- The alternative to deGrom making his next start would either be Jordan Montgomery, who allowed four runs in two innings of relief in this game, or Jack Leiter, who threw 2.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start on Thursday.
- With Nathan Eovaldi already on the injured list, no deGrom would be, problematic, shall we say.
- To say the least.
- The hope was that the return of Cody Bradford and Jordan Montgomery would give the Rangers starting pitching depth to spare. It was suggested that the Rangers didn’t need to make a move for relief arms at the deadline, what with Bradford and Montgomery and Leiter coming back to provide reinforcements.
- Bradford has looked pretty good in his two starts.
- Jordan Montgomery, on the other hand, has looked like he’s cooked.
- His sinker averaged 89.8 mph in this game, his fastball 89.1 mph. Both pitches were in the low 93s in 2023.
- Losing 3-4 mph on your fastball is going to make it hard for you to succeed.
- So yeah, probably Jack Leiter gets the nod if/when deGrom can’t go, after going 48 pitches for Round Rock, because what else are you going to do? Cal Quantrill is already in the rotation, filling in for Eovaldi. Jordan Montgomery ain’t the answer.
- The Angels’ decision to fire their pitching coaches before Tuesday’s game now looks like a sage move, what with the Rangers’ offense being helpless the past three games.
- I whopping five hits in the game. Jarred Kelenic, pinch hitting for Brandon Nimmo because the game was out of reach, had one. So did Evan Carter, Nicky Lopez and Austin Wynns, and when those three are leading the offensive charge, well…
- And yet somehow, the Rangers are just a half-game back of a playoff spot, trailing the Tigers, who have moved into WC3. And they are just two back in the American League West.
- What a weird year.
- Jacob deGrom hit 99.0 mph with his fastball, averaging 97.8 mph. Peyton Gray’s fastball reached 94.2 mph. Jordan Montgomery topped out at 91.1 mph with his sinker. Ben Peoples’ fastball maxed out at 95.8 mph. Cole Winn’s fastball touched 96.4 mph. Tyler Alexander hit 93.0 mph with his fastball.
- Wyatt Langford had a 109.4 mph single. Joc Pederson had a 104.9 mph groundout and a 100.5 mph fly out. Ezequiel Duran had a 103.8 mph fly out and a 102.1 mph fly out. Justin Foscue had a 103.5 mph fly out. Austin Wynns had a 101.9 mph E6.
- On to Sacramento, where things will hopefully go better.