The Rangers resume action today after much needed off day. Jacob deGrom takes the ball today. While he had a successful 2025 season, he was prone to giving up the long ball, surrendering 26 homers. It was the second-most he’d giving allowed in one season in his career. 

The long ball was what did in the Rangers in Game 1, with Eovaldi giving up a two-run homer, and then the dagger, a three-run shot. 

At least most of deGrom’s gopher balls last year were solo shots. This Phillies team has sluggers, and deGrom is going to have his hands full keeping the ball in the yard.

But the bigger struggle is going to be the offense. After two years of futility, swinging at everything, not talking walks, showing no discipline, the Rangers set out to rebuild their approach in the offseason and in spring.

The result was eleven strikeouts, and only one walk. If they can’t improve on that, the next 161 games are going to be as frustrating as last season and the season before.

So, it really doesn’t matter who takes the mound for Texas. It’s what they do at the plate that will determine the success of this team. Yes, they ran into a buzzsaw on Thursday with one of the best pitchers in baseball. But if they can’t hit good pitching, they have no shot at any glory. 

One game is too early to panic. But it would be nice to see consistent contact. Is that too much to ask?

It has been the last two years. 

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