Happy where he is, Rangers' Jacob deGrom takes aim at O's

Jacob deGrom will take the mound on Saturday when the Rangers host the Baltimore Orioles in Arlington, Texas.

deGrom was going to be sent to the Atlanta Braves at the trade deadline, however The Athletic reported the two-time Cy Young Award winner used his no-trade clause to block the move. Instead, deGrom remained with the Rangers, who are holding the third and final American League wild-card spot and reside 1 1/2 games back of the American League West-leading Houston Astros.

On Saturday, the right-hander will try to help the Rangers extend their winning streak to four games, which would be the team's longest since a six-game stretch from June 25-30. The last victory of that streak, a 4-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians, also was deGrom's last victory.

"He wants to be out there with us," Rangers closer Jacob Latz said on the team's postgame radio show after Friday's 2-1 victory over the Orioles. "So, it meant a lot when he said that to all of us, and I think it definitely inspired us to play freely."

Last Saturday, deGrom allowed five runs on seven hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros.

In six starts against the Orioles, deGrom is 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA. The only no-decision came on March 31, as he departed after 4 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo had a single on Friday to improve to 10-for-21 this month. However, his big play Friday came in the ninth inning, as his relay from the right-field corner on Christian Franklin's double helped throw out Leody Taveras at home and preserve the one-run lead.

The Orioles, two games behind the Rangers in the wild-card standings, will look to end a two-game skid on Saturday behind right-hander Kyle Bradish (7-10, 3.79).

Bradish is coming off his shortest outing this season, as a rain delay in Philadelphia limited him to three innings. He gave up two runs on two hits and two walks as the Phillies won 8-0 in a rain-shortened, six-inning contest.

Bradish has pitched well against the Rangers but with nothing to show for it (0-0, 1.35 ERA), although his last appearance came more than three years ago. In three starts, he's allowed two runs on just eight hits over 13 1/3 innings with 11 strikeouts and five walks.

On Friday, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz gave Jackson Holliday a vote of confidence by batting him third in the lineup.

Although Holliday went 0-for-4 in Friday's loss and is 0-for-18 in August, the top pick of the 2022 draft has hit the ball much better in the past month.

Before the game, Albernaz told reporters that Holliday has shown the ability to work counts and hit to all fields.

"We all know Jackson has juice, and he has pop, but he also has the ability to be a really good hitter," Albernaz said, according to the Baltimore Sun.

--Field Level Media