Even as a kid playing catch with his dad, Jacob deGrom always tried to hit his spots. He did the same throughout his rehab process following a second Tommy John surgery, which he underwent just six starts into his Rangers career in 2023.

Judge and deGrom met in the first inning, when a pitcher who has tried throwing with less velocity and with more of a varied selection — in an attempt to stay healthy — looked an awful lot like deGrom in his prime: He ignored those secondary pitches and only went with heaters and sliders, though he lost Judge on a six-pitch walk.

The Rangers' veteran ace has pitched well this season but he recognizes that Yankees' star Aaron Judge can be a problem.