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The strikeouts aren’t quite there yet but Jacob deGrom is starting to resemble the $185 million ace who the Texas Rangers invested in before the 2023 season.

The right-hander hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his past four starts. He’ll make his eighth start of the season on Saturday in the middle game of a three-game series against the Tigers in Detroit. That itself is nearing a milestone; deGrom started only nine games combined the past two seasons because of injury.

In deGrom’s final start of April, he held the Athletics scoreless for six innings in a 15-2 win. He pitched five innings against Seattle on Sunday, limiting the Mariners to one run and three hits and got the decision in the 8-1 victory.

“It was just another great start, maybe not quite as sharp, but he gave up one run in five innings,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He worked a little harder today, but he’s just so good. He’s obviously a tremendous pitcher, with his command and everything and the poise. It’s good to see him healthy and just throwing the ball the way he is.”

A two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, deGrom (2-1, 2.61 ERA) hasn’t made it more than 15 starts since the 2019 season, when he took the mound 32 times for the New York Mets. In his most dominant seasons, he posted double-digit strikeout-to-walk ratios. His ratio thus far is 4.0 with 36 strikeouts in 38 innings.

“He’s got his stuff no matter what the day is, so even when he feels a little off, his stuff’s still going to be there,” catcher Jonah Heim said. “It’s pretty electric, and like I said before, when he’s throwing all his pitches for strikes and we can use them whenever we want, it’s going to be a pretty good day for us.”

DeGrom gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings in his lone career start against the Tigers in 2016.

Jack Flaherty (1-4, 3.79 ERA) will start for Detroit. The Tigers have lost each of the past five games Flaherty has started, mainly due to lack of run support. They have only scored a total of 10 runs in those outings.

Getting deep into the game has also been an issue for Flaherty, who hasn’t gone more than six innings in a start this season. Opponents are batting .211 in his first time through the order and .169 the second time around. That average jumps to .393 the third time, through.

His most recent outing is a case in point. Flaherty held the Los Angeles Angels to one run in five innings but gave up four more in the sixth.

“That third time through, I don’t know,” Flaherty said. “I am searching there for that back half, to carry the stuff over from the first handful of innings to the back half of the game.”

Opponents are 11 for 21 and have scored eight runs off Flaherty in the sixth inning. Manager A.J. Hinch said he believes Flaherty will soon get past those issues.

“He’s going to be good in those situations when he executes because Jack is always good when he executes,” Hinch said.

Flaherty is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA in three career starts against the Rangers.

The Tigers have won five straight and eight of their past nine. They captured the series opener, 2-1, on Friday as ace Tarik Skubal struck out 12 in seven innings.

Texas has lost 12 of its past 16 games.

–Field Level Media