(Photo credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images)

The Texas Rangers need all the help they can get if they're going to sneak into the postseason. That begins with more consistent outings from two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom.

Despite a lackluster season, Texas trails the American League West-leading Houston Astros by just two games entering Monday's opener of a three-game series against the Athletics in Arlington, Texas.

The veteran deGrom (9-9, 4.21 ERA) was injured and missed the club's remarkable run to the 2023 World Series.

Wanting to help the Rangers return to the postseason for the first time since then, he knows he'll have to start living up to the five-year, $185 million contract he signed with the club.

The right-hander allowed eight runs on six hits across 3 2/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. He walked five and struck out two in the Rangers' 11-7 loss.

'I've got to do a better job,' deGrom said. 'I put us in a bad spot to start the game. I've said that too many times to you guys this year. It's frustrating. I gave up six in the first. I've got to figure out a way to get outs, and I wasn't able to do it. Walks, falling behind. I did a terrible job, and that's what it is.'

deGrom is 2-3 with a 7.20 ERA in five starts in August. In six career starts against the A's, he is 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA.

The Rangers salvaged a difficult road trip on Sunday with a 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, snapping a four-game losing streak. Texas, the third-lowest-scoring team in baseball (only ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners), will look to take advantage of the majors' second-worst team ERA in the A's (5.44).

'We've talked about offensive identity and what that means,' Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. 'It's going to take some heart and guts to fight back and start getting more wins.'

The Athletics are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles.

Closing in on the final month of their fifth consecutive losing season, the A's will use the final 25 games to evaluate what they have to work with heading into 2027.

The club has seen left-hander Gage Jump (6-8, 4.69) gain valuable experience in his rookie year. The starter for the visitors on Monday will be in search of his first back-to-back wins since the first week of June.

Jump, 23, allowed two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. He also struck out nine and walked two in the impressive start.

'I feel great,' Jump said. 'At this point in the season, you kind of learn how to listen to your body. Whether that's cutting back on stuff in the weight room or training room, you kind of learn those things. Overall, I'm feeling really good.'

Jump allowed three runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Rangers on Aug. 14. He walked four and struck out one in a no-decision.

--Field Level Media