Bochy mismanaged the Rangers rotation through the season collapse
Bruce Bochy's reliance on aging veterans like Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi contributed to an eight-game losing streak that ended the Texas Rangers' postseason hopes. Managing veteran workloads becomes increasingly difficult under new MLB pitcher rest and clock enforcement rules.
Rotation failures doomed the season
Bruce Bochy mismanaged the Texas Rangers rotation during the late-season collapse that ended their postseason hopes. The team suffered an eight-game losing streak that removed them from the playoff race. The Rangers sat three and a half games behind the last Wild Card spot in the American League. Bochy blamed the staff for mistakes in the field. He claimed the team should have won the division because of their pitching. The rotation produced strong results, yet the lack of consistency doomed the season. The decision to lean heavily on a veteran rotation during a late-season slide proved disastrous for the Texas Rangers as they fell from the postseason race following an eight-game losing streak. deGrom recorded 31 appearances and 162.2 innings with a 4.20 ERA, while Nathan Eovaldi pitched 145.2 innings with a 4.20 ERA and 27 appearances. Cal Quantrill recorded 32 appearances and 110.0 innings with a 2.86 ERA. MacKenzie Gore pitched 173.0 innings. Kumar Rocker threw 148.0 innings in 30 appearances. Jack Leiter pitched 80.0 innings and allowed a 5.29 ERA across 15 appearances.
deGrom workload and new rules
The reliance on Jacob deGrom created significant risk for the pitching staff. deGrom reaches the age of 38 this year and previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023. He threw 172.2 innings in 2025. He achieved the milestone of 2,000 career strikeouts in August by throwing 94 pitches over six innings. He averaged 97.3 mph on his four-seam fastball with a maximum of 99.4 mph. The new MLB rules regarding pitcher rest and clock enforcement create additional complications for managers who rely on veteran arms. You should observe how these rules force changes in starter usage. The clock provides a means of enforcement for the 12-second rule when the bases are empty. A pitcher who fails to be ready receives a called ball. deGrom reached his career milestone in his 272nd MLB game and his 1,660.1 third inning, which ranks second in MLB history for the fewest innings needed behind Chris Sale. He recorded 10 strikeouts in a single outing against the Nationals to hit this mark.
| Pitcher | 2026 Games | 2026 IP | 2026 ERA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob deGrom | 31 | 162.2 | 4.20 |
| Nathan Eovaldi | 27 | 145.2 | 4.20 |
| Cal Quantrill | 32 | 110.0 | 2.86 |
| MacKenzie Gore | 34 | 173.0 | 4.58 |
| Kumar Rocker | 30 | 148.0 | 4.38 |
Managing aging veterans
The team relied on aging veterans who faced significant physical limitations. Nathan Eovaldi, who is 35, pitched 145.2 innings in 2026 after a previous rotator cuff injury. Eovaldi had previously posted a 1.73 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 130 innings. Bochy’s decision to push these arms through the season ignored the reality of their declining durability. The pitching staff produced strong numbers, yet the sudden decline in performance during the final weeks left the roster vulnerable. deGrom reached 2,000 strikeouts in his 272nd MLB game and his 1,660.1 third inning. He recorded 10 strikeouts in a single outing against the Nationals to hit this mark. Bochy spoke about the team’s need to find players who are ready to go as the season concludes. The rotation includes Kumar Rocker, who threw 148.0 innings, and Tyler Alexander, who threw 73.0 innings. Peyton Gray pitched 56.0 innings. The management failed to account for how the intensity of the season affects older players. Will the front office replace these veterans with younger talent for the 2027 campaign?
