Has Jack Leiter turned a corner? It sure looks like it.
Through his first two starts this season, the rookie right-handed pitcher looks like he belongs with the big-league club. After allowing just one run in five innings of work against the Boston Red Sox last week, Leiter did one better on Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati, allowing no runs in five innings.
Leiter struck out six, allowed just one hit, and walked none for the second straight start. And Leiter could have gone deeper into the game had he not been pulled after 70 pitches for precautionary reasons (blister).
"We nipped it (in the bud)," manager Bruce Bochy said on the Rangers Sports Network after the game. "He could have gone back out but then we were asking for trouble. I think he's going to be fine. He skipped his bullpen after his last start. We'll check on him in the next couple days. He does get an extra day (before his next start). That's going to help out."
Rangers pre and postgame show host Jared Sandler joined the GBag Nation to discuss Leiter's strong start and the club's struggling offense.