Leclerc allowed two hits and one walk over one-third of an inning to get a hold in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Pittsburgh.
Leclerc had made a stretch of low-leverage appearances before getting the call to pitch the eighth inning of a one-run game Wednesday. He retired the first batter then allowed the next three to reach, and he was removed after 16 pitches (eight strikes). Closer Will Smith escaped from the frame unscathed and returned for the ninth inning to complete a five-out save.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Will work in low-leverage spots
Rotowire
Leclerc allowed one run on two hits while striking out one over one inning in Sunday's 16-8 win over the Angels.
Leclerc worked the final inning and ceded a solo home run to Hunter Renfroe. The one-time closer will be used in low-leverage situations, per Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News, and they don't get much lower than pitching with your team leading by nine runs to begin the ninth inning. Will Smith has taken over as the team's primary closer.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Short stint in loss
Rotowire
Leclerc allowed two runs on two walks and one hit over a one-third of an inning in Wednesday's 12-7 loss to the Diamondbacks.
On the day manager Bruce Bochy anointed Will Smith the team's sole closer, Leclerc had the kind of effort that reinforced the manager's decision. He walked the first two batters faced, the second of which produced the go-ahead run charged to Josh Sborz. A couple of batters later -- a sacrifice fly and a single -- and Leclerc's night was done. Leclerc has issued a passel of walks to start the season -- nine over 10 innings -- but until Wednesday, they hadn't hurt him.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Loses hold of closer's role
Rotowire
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy confirmed Wednesday that Will Smith rather than Leclerc will see the majority of the team's save opportunities moving forward, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Bochy's pronouncement comes after Leclerc was bypassed for the save opportunity in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Diamondbacks in favor of Smith, who recorded the game's final four outs en route to notching his fourth save in as many chances. Leclerc and Smith had opened the season in something of a closing committee, and despite posting a strong 0.93 ERA and 1.14 WHIP through his first 10 appearances of the season, Leclerc's 18.4 percent walk rate didn't bode well for his chances of avoiding a blowup somewhere down the line. Until Leclerc shows he can throw strikes with more consistency, Smith looks like he'll maintain a firm grip on the closer's gig.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Bypassed for save opportunity
Rotowire
Leclerc was not used in a save situation in Tuesday's 6-4 win over Arizona.
Will Smith closed out the win instead of Leclerc, who hasn't been given a save opportunity since blowing his second of the season, April 24, against the Reds. Leclerc hasn't pitched in five days and was rested, but manager Bruce Bochy opted for Smith for a second straight save opportunity. Leclerc's 0.93 ERA hides the seven walks he's allowed and a 6.14 xFIP over 9.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Part of bullpen meltdown
Rotowire
Leclerc (0-1) allowed three walks and an unearned run over a third of an inning, picking up the loss in Monday's game against the Reds.
The base on balls -- an old Leclerc bugaboo -- reared itself once again. With the Rangers up, 6-4, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Leclerc entered a bases-loaded, two-out situation and promptly walked the first two batters faced (11 pitches, three strikes). He was eventually pulled after walking the first batter faced in the bottom of the ninth on four pitches. That run came home to score, in part due to a wild pitch by Will Smith, which made it unearned. The blown save was Leclerc's second of the season and second in as many outings.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Shuts door Friday
Rotowire
Leclerc pitched a perfect ninth inning in Friday's 6-2 win over Houston.
Leclerc had been warming up when the Rangers plated an insurance run, making it a non-save situation. Still, it was a nice bounce back for Leclerc, who blew a save in his previous outing Tuesday versus the Royals.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Blows first save
Rotowire
Leclerc was charged with a blown save during Tuesday's win over the Royals after he allowed one unearned run on one hit and two walks over 1.1 innings. He did not record a strikeout.
Lefty Will Smith opened the ninth inning by giving up a leadoff single, and Leclerc was stuck with the blown save after allowing the inherited runner to score. He then returned for the 10th and recorded one out before being lifted, and he was charged an unearned run when the designated runner later came around to score. Leclerc and Smith appear to be working as a closer committee and have one save apiece in the early going, with Tuesday marking the first time either reliever has been scored upon this season.
Leclerc picked up the save after striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning during Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Orioles.
Leclerc got the call in the ninth after Will Smith, who picked up the Rangers' first save opportunity Sunday against Philadelphia, worked 1.1 innings following Jacob deGrom's start. It appears Leclerc and Smith are going to split closing opportunities to open the season, which would seem to limit both players' overall fantasy upside. Leclerc now has two strikeouts across two scoreless innings to start the year.
Texas manager Bruce Bochy told his bullpen on Opening Day that Leclerc would be the closer to start the season, but the manager called on Will Smith to close out Sunday's win over the Phillies, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Smith said he was surprised to get the call Sunday, given what Bochy had told members of the bullpen days earlier. The manager talked about bullpen versatility, indicating he could use any of his closer candidates in any situation. "It's a very versatile bullpen where I can use them in the fifth, sixth or high-leverage situations in the eighth and ninth," Bochy said. "It's a fun bullpen. Balance with the lefties and righties... there may be times where really all of them could [close] at some point." It appears Leclerc remains in the mix for saves, but Bochy may not have one set closer.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jose Leclerc: Bypassed for save opportunity
Rotowire
Leclerc was not used in a save situation in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Phillies.
After a couple of blowout wins, the Rangers were presented with the first save opportunity of the season Sunday, and it was Will Smith who closed the door on Philadelphia. Leclerc had plenty of rest after throwing 21 pitches in Thursday's season opener. Both pitchers are expected to pitch the ninth inning, but Leclerc was the first in line to close games coming out of camp. Texas manager Bruce Bochy may have opted for the lefty Smith because left-handed hitters were due up in the ninth or because he had yet to pitch this season.
