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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Grinds through four frames

  3D ago • By RotoWire

  Leiter allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings in Sunday's spring start against the White Sox. Leiter gave up a lot of loud contact in the first inning, when the White Sox plated two runs, but he managed to grind out three scoreless innings after that. There were command issues, including the No. 9 batter with two outs after getting ahead of him -- but also enough for the right-hander to take away some positives following the game. "I think grinding through an outing like this, it wasn't the sharpest, but I made pitches when I had to," Leiter told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Much has changed for the pitcher since his previous start last Tuesday. Projected rotation members Cody Bradford (elbow) and Jon Gray (wrist) have been shut down and potentially face significant absences during the regular season. That puts Leiter and fellow Vanderbilt alum Kumar Rocker on paths to the rotation.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Competing to fill in for Bradford

  7D ago • By RotoWire

  Leiter is competing with Kumar Rocker to fill the spot in the Rangers' rotation vacated by Cody Bradford (elbow), Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. Manager Bruce Bochy announced Thursday that Bradford would begin the season on the injured list with a sore left elbow. While it seems there's hope that it won't be a long-term absence, his turn through the rotation will likely need to be filled at least a couple times. Leiter could be the favorite if the team goes mostly on spring training results, as he's allowed just three runs with a 13:6 K:BB over 10.2 innings. He was wild in his last outing, however, walking five over 2.2 frames while throwing more balls than strikes. Control has often been an issue for Leiter, but his stuff has ticked up this spring, and he has looked dominant at times.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Walks five Tuesday

  8D ago • By RotoWire

  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

  09/06/2024 • By RotoWire

  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

  09/02/2024 • By RotoWire

  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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