Every time Jacob deGrom takes the mound, for the next five years, the collective breaths of Rangers fans are going to be held a bit. Because there are two things that are undeniable. One, he is the best pitcher in baseball. Two, he is fragile.

In his last start, he had to leave the game after four innings because of a sore wrist. In the past, in Rangers World, that would translate to missing two months. 

Not only did he not miss a start, he didn’t miss a beat. He got the Athletics out one-two-three in the first. Gave up an insignificant single in the second. Same in the third. Got them out one-two-three in the fourth. Then, in the fifth, after an error allowed the first batter to get on, with one out he gave up an unlikely two-run homer. 

Then he struck out the next guy. And the next guy. And the next three guys.

After six innings, deGrom had a 4-2 lead, eleven strikeouts and just one earned run. Bruce Bochy took him out of the game then, after just eighty pitches. The Rangers have five more years of deGrom. He will be stored in bubble wrap. The Rangers haven’t had a pitcher this good since 1993. They desperately need him to start every five days.

Then they covered him in protective wrap and stored him away for his next start against the Yankees later this week.

*****