SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers intend to use Jacob deGrom as their fifth starter to begin the year because that will provide the two-time NL Cy Young winner an extra day of rest for each of his first five starts, Texas manager Bruce Bochy told The Post.
DeGrom returned from his second Tommy John surgery to make three starts at the close of last season and came into this Rangers camp considered a fully healthy pitcher.
But, Bochy said, the team wants to ease deGrom back into the season considering that he has made just 35 starts over the last four seasons, including just nine since leaving the Mets to sign a five-year, $182 million pact for Texas.
DeGrom threw batting practice on Saturday to Joc Pederson and Kevin Pillar and is scheduled to make the first of what Bochy expects to be four spring starts on Friday night.
