Jacob deGrom (6-5, 3.55 ERA) takes the ball for Texas tonight, squaring off against Tanner Bibee (2-8, 3.78 ERA) in a rematch of sorts — Bibee shut the Rangers out over 8 innings back on June 6. The headline numbers say deGrom has been the better pitcher this year, but the ERA gap between these two is a lot tighter than the win-loss records imply.
Bibee's 2-8 record is almost entirely a run-support problem. He's been one of the AL's sneaky-better starters over the last two months, posting a sub-3.20 ERA across his last 13 outings and logging 6 quality starts in his last 7. His most recent turn was 6 scoreless innings against the White Sox on June 24 — 89 pitches, 3 hits, 1 walk. That's the version of Bibee Texas needs to worry about, not the guy who got hammered by Atlanta in April.
The biggest subtraction on the Cleveland side has nothing to do with tonight's pitching matchup. Jose Ramirez had hamate surgery on June 16 and is projected to miss 5 to 7 weeks — gone through at least mid-July, effectively wiping out the Guardians' most dangerous bat for the rest of the first half. Cleveland has won games without him, but their lineup is measurably thinner. Texas has its own absences — Wyatt Langford is out through the All-Star break with a hamstring strain, Brandon Nimmo is day-to-day with a sprained AC joint — but none of those holes cut as deep as Ramirez does for Cleveland.
- Day-To-DayBrandon Nimmo RF — Nimmo has been diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- Day-To-DaySebastian Walcott SS — Walcott (elbow) will begin to ramp up his activity soon and is still on track for a late-July or early-August return to a minor-league affiliate, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILWyatt Langford LF — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Sunday that Langford (hamstring) will remain on the 10-day injured list through the All-Star break, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILCody Freeman 3B — The Rangers placed Freeman on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a herniated disc.
- 10-Day-ILDanny Jansen C — Jansen (forearm) was able to throw out to 60 feet Saturday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin RP — Martin (shoulder) was sent to Double-A Frisco on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment.
- 15-Day-ILJack Leiter SP — Leiter underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body from his right ankle region Tuesday and should be considered out indefinitely, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILJalen Beeks RP — Beeks (2-1) earned the win in relief Saturday against the Cubs after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings. He struck out one with no hits or walks allowed.
- Day-To-DayTanner Burns SP — no
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
- 10-Day-ILAngel Martinez LF — Martinez (foot) has shed his walking boot, is playing catch and hitting off a batting tee, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJose Ramirez 3B — Ramirez underwent surgery to address the hamate bone fracture in his left hand Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined 5-to-7 weeks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
deGrom's last start was technically a loss — the Rangers fell 4-2 to the Marlins on June 24 — but he gave up only 2 earned runs over 6 innings while striking out 8 on 91 pitches. The offense let him down. If Texas keeps producing the way it has over this 5-game stretch (21 runs in the Toronto sweep alone), deGrom doesn't need to be dominant to get a win here. He just needs to be himself.