By Trevor Roughan
Before the start of the 2023 MLB season, Only Players selected and analyzed three future bets we liked. We’ll be following up on these bets throughout the season and providing updates at the end of every month. Let’s check in with Jacob DeGrom.
Jacob DeGrom – under 198.5 strikeouts (-120)
Jacob DeGrom is hurt with no timetable for return. (Who could have seen this coming?) The Texas Rangers’ ace has already suffered two injuries early in the 2023 season, and he’s currently sidelined with inflammation in his throwing elbow. DeGrom is due to come off of the IL within the week, but according to manager Bruce Bochy, he won’t be ready by then. “Another 2-3 weeks at least” said the Rangers’ skip.
With over a quarter of the 2023 MLB season in the books, our preseason future bet for DeGrom to record less than 199 total strikeouts looks really good. He’s on pace for 170 whiffs, and that number does not account for the time he’s set to miss over the next several weeks and beyond.
In Texas, Jacob DeGrom has still proved to be one of the best pitchers on the planet when healthy. Unfortunately for him and the Rangers, health has consistently remained a big question mark for the ace. Even if DeGrom returned from the IL within this month, he’d have to be perfect on the mound and miss no more time to even sniff 199 strikeouts.
As we’ve recently been reminded, betting on Jacob DeGrom to stay healthy is a fool’s errand.
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