Leclerc (3-3) was charged with Monday's loss against the Guardians, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one over one-third of an inning.
Starter Michael Lorenzen pitched well enough to win -- he fired seven shutout innings -- but he got little support from the offense or the bullpen, which ceded seven runs over the final two innings. It started with Leclerc, who has allowed runs in three consecutive appearances (five runs, four hits, three walks, three innings). The team's closer to start the season, Leclerc had shifted back to lower-leverage outings and worked his way back with a stretch of nine scoreless innings prior to this recent three-game downturn. His ERA now stands at 6.88 with a 1.71 WHIP and 15 walks over 17 innings.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Wins in scoreless outing
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Leclerc (2-2) earned the win Friday, striking out two over a scoreless eighth inning against Cincinnati.
Leclerc, who earlier this season lost the closer's job, has reclaimed the confidence of manager Bruce Bochy. Friday's outing was his fifth consecutive scoreless appearance, with the last three coming in the eighth inning of games.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Earns win in setup role
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Leclerc (1-2) picked up the win Thursday, allowing two walks and striking out two over one scoreless inning in a 9-7 victory over the Tigers.
It was a wild affair in Detroit, as the Tigers came back from 4-0 and 7-4 deficits before the Rangers put it away in the final two innings. For Leclerc, it was his first time in what would be a considered a high-leverage spot since he was removed as the team's closer last weekend. He entered with two outs and two inherited runners in the seventh inning and escaped without damage. He became the pitcher of record an inning later when Texas broke a 7-7 tie. He worked around a pair of walks in the eighth before Kirby Yates came in for a four-out save. Since Leclerc lost the closer's job, the right-hander has not allowed a run and struck out six over four innings.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Moved to low-leverage, for now
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Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said after Friday's game that Leclerc will be working low-leverage situations temporarily, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Leclerc took his first blown save and second loss of the season Tuesday and said afterward that he's still working to refine his mechanics. The Rangers will have him iron out his issues in lower-leverage spots before revisiting a return to the ninth inning -- the club was said to be pleased with Leclerc's scoreless sixth inning during Friday's win in Houston. Veteran David Robertson has a 1.08 ERA in eight appearances so far this season and is an obvious candidate to step into the closer role, though Kirby Yates worked the ninth Friday in a non-save situation.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: No panic from manager
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Texas manager Bruce Bochy did not indicate any changes at closer after Leclerc blew a save Tuesday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. "We're just over a week here into the season," Bochy said. "These guys, with what they've done, no, I don't have concern."
The manager noted that Leclerc is healthy and suggested the right-hander is not yet "locked in." Leclerc has given up runs in four of five outings in addition to Tuesday's blown save, his first of the season.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Charged with blown save
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Leclerc allowed two runs on one hit and a walk in one inning and was charged with a blown save in a 4-3 loss to the Athletics on Tuesday. He struck out two.
Leclerc issued a one-out walk in the ninth inning before serving up a go-ahead home run to Shea Langeliers. The 30-year-old Leclerc has now given up eight runs in five innings while posting a 4:6 K:BB so far. It's entirely possible the Rangers turn away from Leclerc in a ninth-inning role with him struggling badly to begin the year. David Robertson and Kirby Yates would be the likeliest candidates to see save chances if it were to happen.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Garners first save
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Leclerc allowed two hits and struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn his first save in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Astros.
Leclerc entered with two outs in the top of the eighth inning when it was still a 3-2 game and struck out Jose Abreu for the final out. The Rangers' offense then gave him a cushion with four runs in the bottom of the frame. He got into a bind in the ninth, allowing two hits and throwing a wild pitch, but managed to get out unscathed. It was the first time in four outings that Leclerc has not allowed a run.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Another outing, another run
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Leclerc allowed a run on two hits over one inning during Wednesday's 4-1 win over Tampa Bay.
Leclerc has allowed runs in all three of his appearances thus far. None have come in save situations, but that doesn't necessarily soothe the concerns of fantasy managers relying on him for saves. Leclerc has allowed six runs on three hits and five walks while striking out one over 2.2 innings. Continued struggles will likely open the door for David Robertson to see save chances.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Takes loss Sunday
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Leclerc (0-1) took the loss Sunday, allowing four runs on one hit and three walks over two-thirds of an inning against the Cubs.
It wasn't a save situation, but it was a troubling performance that recalled Texas' bullpen struggles of 2023, when Leclerc lost the closer's job early on. Leclerc, who's had an issue with free passes during his career, walked a run in Sunday and has walked five over 1.2 innings thus far. The Rangers' closer has allowed runs in each of his first two outings. He was the victim of an incorrect call by an umpire Opening Day, but Sunday was all on him.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Appears set to close
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Rangers manager Bruce Bochy indicated Sunday that Leclerc has a "strong possibility" of beginning the season as the club's primary closer, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Bochy said at the start of spring training that "there is no pecking order" for the Texas bullpen, but Leclerc apparently showed enough in camp despite giving up two earned runs over 2.1 frames in his three Cactus League appearances. The 30-year-old posted a 2.68 ERA in 57 appearances last season and tallied just four saves, but he also pitched well in the playoffs while saving another four contests. David Robertson signed with the Rangers in January and could quickly enter the mix for saves should Leclerc struggle early in 2024.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Gives up runs in spring debut
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Leclerc allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one over a third of an inning in Thursday's spring game against Milwaukee.
Leclerc, who made his Cactus League debut, was tagged with a blown save, though that means little in the context of a spring game. Coming off a strong postseason, he is considered one of the options to close games this season. Manager Bruce Bochy has not yet identified any one reliever as his closer, nor has the manager established a pecking order, as multiple arms are being considered for endgame work.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Bochy not naming closer yet
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Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday that "there is no pecking order" between Leclerc and the other members of the team's bullpen, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Bochy did indicate, however, that he hopes a closer will emerge during spring training and "we will have a guy who will get closing opportunities" come Opening Day. Leclerc rebounded from a sluggish start last season to finish with a 2.68 ERA and 67:28 K:BB over 57 innings. He notched four saves during the Rangers' postseason run and was unscored upon in three World Series appearances. The other prime candidate beyond Leclerc is David Robertson, whose 2023 season was basically the opposite of Leclerc's in that he started strong with the Mets (2.05 ERA, 14 saves) before struggling with the Marlins (5.06 ERA, four saves). Robertson has by far the most closing experience in the bullpen with 175 career saves, but he'll also turn 39 in April. Josh Sborz and Kirby Yates could also potentially be in the mix.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Brought back for '24
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The Rangers exercised Leclerc's $6.25 million option for 2024 on Saturday.
Leclerc proved to be a valuable member of Texas' bullpen en route to the team's first World Series title, logging a 2.68 ERA and 1.14 WHIP alongside a 67:28 K:BB over 57 innings. Given his dominance and consistency across the past two seasons, the 29-year-old righty could be in the mix for more save opportunities next year.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Closes second game of postseason
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Leclerc tossed a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 2-0 victory over the Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS. He struck out one.
Leclerc's string of dominance continued Sunday, as he pitched a perfect inning for the second appearance in a row. While Leclerc was not typically featured as a closer in the regular season, earning only four saves in 57 innings of work, he has now successfully converted both of the team's' saves in the postseason, which may signal more opportunities down the road. In October, Leclerc has pitched to a mint 1.54 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with seven strikeouts across six innings.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Pitches ninth inning
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Leclerc allowed one walk and struck out two over one inning in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Angels.
It was 2-0 game entering the eighth inning, when manager Bruce Bochy sent Aroldis Chapman into the game with the thought of Leclerc closing out the ninth. After the Rangers scored three runs in the top of the ninth, Leclerc's save opportunity went away. Nevertheless, Leclerc is back in the mix for saves after recording two in the last week and was in position for a third Wednesday. Over the last seven outings, Leclerc has three holds and two saves while striking out 11 over 7.1 innings.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Garners save No. 4
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Leclerc allowed one hit but otherwise pitched a clean ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn the save over the Mariners on Sunday.
Leclerc allowed a two-out double to Eugenio Suarez but otherwise made easy work of the Mariner hitters. He's found himself in a high-leverage role over the last two weeks and has two saves and three holds in last six appearances. Before this recent stretch, Leclerc had just two saves and four holds in 48 appearances. It seems he's earned manager Bruce Bochy's trust, and rightfully so, as he now owns a 2.85 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 62:27 K:BB in 53.2 innings.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Perfect for third save
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Leclerc picked up the save Tuesday against the Red Sox. He struck out one over a perfect inning.
Leclerc was handed the ball for the ninth inning Tuesday, following up Aroldis Chapman's 1.2 shutout innings, and delivered his third save of the season. He bounced back from a blown save in his last appearance and appears to still be in contention with Chapman and Will Smith for ninth-inning duties. In 52 appearances this season, Leclerc owns a 2.98 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 58:27 K:BB.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Grabs second save
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Leclerc picked up the save in Monday's 4-3 win over the Mets. He walked one while striking out two over a scoreless inning.
With Will Smith and Aroldis Chapman each having pitched Sunday, Leclerc was called upon to pitch the ninth Monday with a one-run lead. The 29-year-old right-hander worked around a two-out walk to earn his second save of the year, his first since April 5. Leclerc has been a steady presence in the Rangers' bullpen of late, delivering eight consecutive scoreless appearances (8.2 innings) while earning more high-leverage opportunities. His ERA is down to 2.51 with a 1.12 WHIP and 47:21 K:BB across 43 innings this season.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Quietly pitching well
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Leclerc struck out two over a scoreless relief inning in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Twins.
The Rangers' bullpen has been shaky during the team's seven-game losing streak, and it blew another lead Thursday. None of that is on Leclerc, the one-time closer who has a 1.53 ERA over 17.2 innings since coming off the injured list in early July. More importantly, he's limited his bases on balls with just four walks (2.0 BB/9) during that stretch. Before landing on the IL, Leclerc walked 15 batters over 25 innings (5.4 BB/9). If Texas manager Bruce Bochy moves on from Will Smith as the team's closer, Aroldis Chapman could emerge as the primary closer, but Leclerc's sterling work could put him back into high-leverage consideration.
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Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Activated from injured list
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Leclerc (ankle) was activated from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Leclerc missed the last two weeks of action with a sprained right ankle but was able to make a couple rehab appearances without issue. The 29-year-old should primarily work as part of the bridge to closer Will Smith.
