Rangers' Jack Leiter: Career-high 10 Ks vs. Cleveland
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Leiter (8-7) earned the win against the Guardians on Saturday, allowing two hits while striking out 10 across seven scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk.
Leiter entered Saturday's game having issued at least two walks in eight straight starts while failing to reach the fifth inning in two of his last three outings. However, the 25-year-old right-hander was in total control against Cleveland, yielding just two singles while recording a career-high 10 strikeouts. It was the first time he took a scoreless outing past the sixth frame, and the Rangers' bullpen kept the Guardians off the board over the last two innings to complete the shutout. Saturday's efforts lowered Leiter's ERA and WHIP to 3.81 and 1.31, respectively, across 115.2 innings, and his 111 strikeouts is third most on the Rangers behind Jacob deGrom (148) and Nathan Eovaldi (129). Leiter is slated to make his next start on the road against the Athletics next weekend.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Control issues persist in loss
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Leiter (7-7) took the loss Monday against the Royals, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out five.
Limiting free passes remains a major issue for Leiter, who walked multiple batters in his eighth consecutive start. The six hits allowed were also his most since his June 29 outing against the Mariners, and the hard-throwing right-hander served up multiple home runs for the first time since his June 17 appearance against these same Royals. Leiter has a shaky 3.62 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 43:25 K:BB across 37.1 innings since the beginning of July, but he's next set to face a Guardians team that has an underwhelming .650 OPS since the beginning of August.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Gets early hook Wednesday
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Leiter came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Yankees, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out three.
The young righty threw only 33 of 68 pitches for strikes before getting the hook, as Leiter failed to complete at least five innings for the third time in six starts since the beginning of July. Despite those struggles, he's still managed to post a respectable 3.45 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 28.2 innings over that stretch, albeit with a 1.46 WHIP and 20 walks. Leiter will look to improve his efficiency in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Diamondbacks.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Takes no-decision in short outing
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Leiter allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out seven over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday.
Leiter had a 12-pitch at-bat against Cole Young that ended in a walk in the fifth inning, getting the Texas right-hander's pitch count up faster than expected. He was charged with one run in that frame when Hoby Milner allowed an inherited runner to score. Leiter had reached the five-inning mark in each of his previous three starts, winning all of them with six runs allowed over 17.1 innings in that span, so this was a step back. He's also walked at least three batters in four straight starts. Leiter now has a 4.10 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 90:48 K:BB through 96.2 innings across 19 starts this season. Kumar Rocker was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, so it looks like Leiter will hold onto his rotation spot after the Rangers acquired Merrill Kelly from the Diamondbacks on Thursday. Leiter is projected to make his next start at home versus the Yankees.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Earns win over Atlanta
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Leiter (7-6) allowed a run on two hits and three walks while striking out seven over six innings to earn the win over Atlanta on Sunday.
Leiter allowed three of those baserunners and the lone run on his line in the second inning, but he settled down well after that and received plenty of run support. He's won three starts in a row, allowing just six runs over his last 17.1 innings despite a 20:11 K:BB in that span. Leiter is now at a 4.09 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 83:45 K:BB through 92.1 innings across 18 starts this season. His next start is projected to be at Seattle.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Strikes out six in win
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Leiter (5-6) picked up the win after throwing 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out six, during Friday's 7-3 win over the Astros.
Leiter did enough to pick up the win Friday, aided by five runs of support during his outing, but struggled with his control again. The right-hander walked four batters to bring his season total up to 38 in 80.1 innings. On the flip side, the 25-year-old has struck out 18 batters over his last three starts, his most over a three-start stretch at any point this season. He enters the All-Star break with a 4.37 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 1.8 K/BB this season.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Walks four in loss
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Leiter (4-3) took the loss against Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three batters over four-plus innings.
Leiter gave up a three-run homer to Byron Buxton in the third inning to account for most of the damage against him. The right-hander also struggled with his control, throwing just 51 of 87 pitches for strikes and issuing four free passes. Leiter had been pitching well entering Wednesday, posting a 2.20 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over five starts since his previous loss May 8, so he has earned himself a lengthy leash in terms of the security of his rotation spot. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, which is projected to be a matchup at home versus Kansas City.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Surrenders one run Thursday
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Leiter allowed a run on three hits and a walk while striking out six over five innings in a no-decision Thursday versus the Rays.
Leiter has allowed three hits or fewer in five of his last six outings, a stretch in which he's gone at least five innings during each start. Thursday's effort was the first time in that span that he hasn't issued multiple walks, and the solo shot he allowed to Junior Caminero was the lone run on his line. Limiting baserunners is always good to see, and that's helped Leiter find decent success lately, though he's earned just two wins despite having a 2.20 ERA over his last five starts. On the year, he has a 3.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 42:24 K:BB through 51.2 innings. The right-hander's next start is projected to be at Minnesota next week.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Continues to limit hits in win
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Leiter (4-2) picked up the win Friday against the Cardinals after allowing three hits and two walks in 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out six.
Although he fell one out shy of what would have been his second quality start of the campaign, Leiter still matched a career high in punchouts and submitted his second scoreless outing of the year. The hard-throwing right-hander has issued multiple walks in seven straight appearances and fanned more than five just once during that span, but he's conceded three hits or fewer six times among his nine starts for the season. Leiter holds a steady 3.66 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 36:23 K:BB and .195 opponent batting average over 46.2 innings, and he's set to take the bump next week against the Rays.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Wild in no-decision
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Leiter did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and five walks over five innings in a 10-5 loss to the White Sox. He struck out three.
Leiter surrendered only two runs -- both coming on a Joshua Palacios two-run homer -- but struggled mightily with his control. The 25-year-old issued a season-high five walks and threw just 52 of 94 pitches for strikes. On the year, the right-hander has a 4.17 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 30:21 K:BB over eight starts spanning 41 innings.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Gets back on track in third win
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Leiter (3-2) earned the win Tuesday against the Rockies after allowing one run on two hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out five.
Facing a paltry Rockies lineup, Leiter turned in his longest start of the season and certainly his finest since coming off the injured list. The 25-year-old right-hander had given up 12 runs over his last 13 innings (three starts) since returning from a finger issue, with Tuesday marking his first quality start in 2025. Leiter owns a 4.34 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 23:14 K:BB across 29 innings on the campaign, and he'll face a tough test in his next scheduled outing this weekend versus an improving Astros offense.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Takes first loss
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Leiter (2-1) allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out two over 4.1 innings, taking the loss Friday versus the Mariners.
Leiter was doing alright initially, but he started to falter when he allowed a solo shot to Cal Raleigh in the fourth inning. Raleigh added a grand slam in the fifth as the Mariners batted around, knocking Leiter from the game. Those were the first two homers the 25-year-old right-hander has allowed across four starts this season. He's failed to complete five innings in either of his last two outings following a stint on the injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger. He's now at a 4.58 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB across 17.2 innings this season. Leiter will have some ups and downs as a young pitcher finding his footing in the majors. He's projected to make his next start on the road in Boston.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Set for rehab start Tuesday
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Leiter (finger) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Leiter landed on the injured list April 4 due to a blister on his right middle finger and is already eligible for activation, but he'll get in at least one rehab outing before rejoining the Rangers' rotation. The right-hander started the season strongly before the blister popped up, as he allowed just one earned run and posted a 10:1 K:BB over 10 innings across his first two starts, each of which resulted in a win. If Leiter's rehab start Tuesday goes well, he could be back in the major-league rotation as soon as next Sunday against San Francisco, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Earns first career win
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Leiter (1-0) earned the win Friday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out four batters over five innings.
After finishing last season with an 8.83 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 35.2 innings, Leiter turned in the best start of his young MLB career Friday. The only damage done against the 24-year-old righty came on an RBI single off the bat of Wilyer Abreu in the fourth inning, but Leiter immediately got out of the jam by inducing a double play in the next at-bat. It's too early to tell if his strong outing is a sign of what's to come this year or just an outlier, but he certainly has plenty of momentum heading into his start next week in Cincinnati.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Earns rotation spot
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Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Tuesday that Leiter will open the season in the team's rotation, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Leiter showed an increase in velocity this spring while striking out 21 over 20.2 innings. He also walked 10, and whether the 24-year-old is ultimately able to throw enough strikes will go a long way in determining how successful he'll be. The upside is certainly there, but there's also risk.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Walks five Tuesday
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Leiter allowed one run on one hit and five walks while striking out five over 2.2 innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Angels.
Leiter was a late fill-in starter after Tyler Mahle was scratched due to forearm tightness. Perhaps the late change factored into the control issue exhibited by Leiter, who threw more balls (30) than strikes (29). Until this outing, Leiter was having an encouraging spring, handing out just one free pass over his first eight innings.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Sticking around in rotation
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Leiter is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Angels in Arlington.
Though he could end up being squeezed out of the rotation once both Jacob deGrom (elbow) and Max Scherzer (shoulder) return from the injured list, Leiter will retain a starting role for now. The rookie had been pitching well at Triple-A Round Rock since the All-Star break, but he's yet to find much success through his first five big-league outings. He'll carry an 11.78 ERA and 2.13 WHIP into Saturday's start.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: To finish season in rotation
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Leiter is expected to finish out the season as part of the Rangers' rotation, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. "We feel like he's done everything he can at Triple-A," Rangers general manager Chris Young said. "Now he needs some consistent starts at the major-league level. We're looking forward to him getting that in September."
Leiter, who started the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday, is expected to be called up for Monday's start against the Yankees. The right-hander logged a 3.51 ERA at Triple-A Round Rock in 2024, easily his best result in three professional seasons in the minors. He has a 12.83 ERA in four MLB starts this season, but Leiter's outing last Wednesday was the best of the four with two runs allowed across four frames.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Lasts four innings Wednesday
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Leiter allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four over four-plus innings in a no-decision versus the White Sox on Wednesday.
Leiter was OK in his first major-league start since May 14, but it was still a rather inefficient performance. He threw 83 pitches (56 strikes) in total and allowed two runners to reach base in the fifth inning, one of which came around to score after Jose Urena entered the game as a long reliever. Leiter has a 12.83 ERA, 2.40 WHIP and 11:8 K:BB over 13.1 innings over four starts, though it's expected he'll spend most of the rest of the campaign in the majors to get some experience. He's tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Yankees in a tough matchup.
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Rangers' Jack Leiter: Officially promoted
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The Rangers recalled Leiter from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.
Leiter will officially serve as the Rangers' 27th man as he starts the second game of Wednesday's twin bill, though he is expected to remain in the big-league rotation for another several starts. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up 17 runs in only 9.1 innings over his first three MLB starts early in the season, but he's since logged a 3.83 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 51.2 innings in Triple-A.
