Jacob deGrom takes the mound at Globe Life Field on Thursday, August 20, 2026, as the Texas Rangers host the Washington Nationals in a regular-season matchup with an 8:05 PM ET first pitch. The game is available on FS1 nationally, with local coverage on Rangers Sports Network presented by Progressive, and Spanish-language radio on KFLC 1270. This is a straightforward home opportunity for Texas to pick up a win against a Nationals club that has spent much of recent seasons rebuilding its roster around younger talent.
Starting Pitchers: Jacob deGrom vs. Andrew Alvarez
The headliner here is deGrom. When healthy, the right-hander is one of the most dominant starters in the game — a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner whose stuff routinely puts opposing lineups in survival mode. His presence at the top of the Rangers rotation is a significant asset, and a deGrom start at home is one of the better bets Texas can offer fans walking through the gates in Arlington. Specific ERA and win-loss figures for this season are not yet available, so we'll let his track record speak to the kind of outing Texas is expecting.
Andrew Alvarez gets the ball for Washington. The left-hander has been part of the Nationals' pitching staff development, but detailed 2026 stats are not in hand ahead of this one. What is clear is that Alvarez faces a stiff challenge stepping into Globe Life Field against a Rangers lineup with legitimate run-scoring capability. This matchup sets up as a favorable one for Texas on paper.
Keys to Watch in Rangers vs. Nationals
- deGrom's command: When deGrom is sharp with his fastball-slider combination, he can cruise through lineups with minimal stress. Watch his pitch count through the first three innings — if he's efficient early, Texas could get deep into his start.
- Texas offense against a left-hander: The Rangers will look to work counts against Alvarez and exploit any location mistakes. Right-handed hitters in the lineup have a natural platoon edge here.
- Bullpen depth: If deGrom exits before the seventh, the Rangers' bullpen management becomes critical. Protecting a lead late is a skill this organization has invested in.
- Washington's young bats: The Nationals are not a pushover offensively. Their developing lineup can generate traffic on the bases, so deGrom cannot completely cruise on reputation alone.
Broadcast Information
- FS1 (national TV)
- Rangers Sports Network, presented by Progressive (local TV)
- Nationals.TV (Washington-market streaming)
- 105.3 The Fan (Rangers radio, Dallas-Fort Worth)
- WJFK 106.7 The Fan (Washington radio)
- KFLC 1270 (Spanish-language radio)
Prediction
A deGrom start at Globe Life Field against a Nationals team in the midst of a long rebuild is a matchup Texas should win. The Rangers take this one, 4–1, with deGrom delivering six-plus solid innings and the offense doing enough damage against Alvarez in the middle frames to put it away comfortably. Get to the ballpark early — a healthy deGrom on the mound is worth every minute.
