Jacob deGrom's Second-Half Workload Under Close Scrutiny Amidst Rangers' Playoff Hopes

Jacob deGrom's innings count is emerging as a significant narrative for the second half of the season, with the Texas Rangers carefully managing his workload as he returns from injury. Despite deGrom's stated goal to pitch as much as possible, the team has not outlined an official innings limit, although he has rarely surpassed the 100-pitch mark and his average fastball velocity of 97 mph remains conservative compared to previous seasons. There's a strong likelihood deGrom, who has already pitched 112 1/3 innings, could be shut down late in the season if the Rangers, currently below .500 and outside the Wild Card picture, fall out of contention, as the team balances his long-term health and substantial contract with their playoff aspirations. While an innings cap might be implemented, deGrom's impressive performance this season still positions him as a valuable fantasy asset, even if he's not available for the entire home stretch.