Thoughts on a 2-1 Rangers loss
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 05: Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter (22) pitches in the game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds on April 5, 2026 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX (Photo by John Bunch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Reds 2, Rangers 1 Okay, this is getting annoying. Not Jack Leiter though. Jack Leiter is not annoying.
Jack Leiter was tremendous on Sunday. Six pitch mix, better command of his changeup. Five innings, one walk, nine Ks, just one run allowed.
Leiter got 18 swings and misses on 85 pitches. This is two starts in a row where Leiter is looking like a legitimate top of the rotation type starter. Would I have liked to see him need fewer than 85 pitches to go 5 innings?
Sure. Was the righty-righty changeup to Eugenio Suarez in the fourth, when Suarez looked incapable of catching up to his fastball, said change being slapped into center for an RBI single, a questionable decision? Yeah, I think so, but also, that may be on the catcher.
But that’s picking at the tiniest of nits. Through two games, Jack Leiter has a 2. 45 ERA, 2.