Rangers' Jacob deGrom ready to return from early exit, face Nationals

Right-hander Jacob deGrom will return to the mound on Thursday night when the Texas Rangers meet the Washington Nationals in the finale of their three-game series in Arlington, Texas.

The Rangers won 5-0 in the series opener on Tuesday before the Nationals responded with a 6-0 victory on Wednesday.

deGrom (8-8, 3.95 ERA) started last Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Angels but left after two innings with right triceps fatigue. He gave up two runs and six hits in a 7-0 loss to the Angels but was able to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday.

"It went well," Texas manager Skip Schumaker said.

The 38-year-old deGrom needs two strikeouts to reach 2,000 for his career. He would become the second fastest to 2,000 in terms of starts. He will make his 272nd start Thursday, and only Randy Johnson (262) reached the milestone in fewer.

deGrom is 1-2 with a 6.97 ERA in three August starts, with 15 strikeouts and seven walks in 10 1/3 innings. The former New York Met is 10-4 with a 2.30 ERA in 23 appearances (all starts) vs. the Nationals.

Washington will counter with left-hander Anderw Alvarez (2-4, 3.72 ERA), who has worked as both a starter and a reliever since he was recalled in May. His last three appearances have been starts, and he is 0-1 with a 2.60 ERA in those games.

Last time out, Alvarez allowed two runs on two hits over 5 2/3 innings of a 4-1 loss to the Mets on Friday.

Alvarez has yet to face the Rangers in his career.

On Tuesday night, Cade Cavalli blanked the Rangers for six innings, and three relievers finished.

Andres Chaparro had a three-run homer among his three hits and scored three runs. He has hit safely in four of his past five games to raise his average to .250. The right-handed batter generally has been part of a platoon, but on Wednesday night he started against a right-hander.

"He's hitting lefties really well, he's coming off the bench, and also when he's making a start like he did tonight against a righty, to be able to do what he did, I think it's just preparation and also confidence," Nationals manager Blake Butera said. "He wants to prove he can do it."

Washington, which had lost four games in a row and six of seven, also received a homer Wednesday from Jose Tena and two hits from Keibert Ruiz, who is batting .378 in August.

"Just keeping it simple," Ruiz said. "Don't try to do too much. Try to swing at strikes, swing at my pitch and control what I can control."

Corey Seager had two hits for the third game in a row for Texas, which managed only four hits and one walk.

"We just couldn't get anything going," Schumaker said. "We had a guy on first and second I think a couple of times, and that was about it. ... Obviously Corey Seager. Love the way he's swinging the bat right now, but other than that it was a challenging night for our offense."

The Rangers trail the Houston Astros by two games atop the American League West and the Minnesota Twins by half a game for the league's final wild-card spot.

--Field Level Media