Texas Rangers still planning on four rehab starts for Jacob deGrom

The two-time Cy Young winner will return to Triple A Round Rock on Sunday for a three-inning outing as his road back from Tommy John surgery continues.

ARLINGTON — Right-hander Jacob deGrom will not be returning to the Texas Rangers’ rotation next weekend.

The club is planning to stick to its initial plan that calls for deGrom to make four rehab starts before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, manager Bruce Bochy said. The two-time Cy Young winner has already made two, and the next two are scheduled for Sunday at Triple A Round Rock and Sept. 7 at Double A Frisco.

DeGrom remains on track to make his 2024 Rangers debut Sept. 12 or Sept. 13 at Seattle.

“That’s the plan right now,” Bochy said.

The first two starts haven’t presented deGrom with the many different situations he hopes to face in the majors. He has made only three pitches over the two starts/four innings from the stretch, and those came after the first batter he faced Aug. 22 at Frisco opened with a double.

After breezing through two perfect innings Tuesday at Round Rock, deGrom went to the bullpen for 10 more pitches and threw them all from the stretch. He said he needs to experience some stressful situations on the mound.

“A lead-off double here is a lot different than in Double A,” deGrom said.

The Rangers remain uncertain about Max Scherzer’s potential return. The three-time Cy Young winner threw a bullpen session Friday and then met on the field with general manager Chris Young and head athletic trainer Matt Lucero.

Young said that the Rangers will see how Scherzer, who is dealing with shoulder fatigue, is feeling Saturday before determining the next step. Scherzer last pitched July 30 at St. Louis, leaving after four innings and hitting the injured list a few days later, and was scratched from a rehab outing Aug. 23.

“I think he had a good day throwing today,” Young said. “This has been so up and down that I don’t want to get to far ahead. I know he’s frustrated and wishes he was out there pitching.

Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com