Jack Leiter hasn't progressed the way Rangers fans had hoped he would

Jack Leiter was like Neo in "The Matrix" on Saturday night, dodging some serious bullets from the red-hot Chicago Cubs on his way to 4.2 scoreless innings. But don't let the box score fool you, he showed that he still has a long way to go to become a reliable major league starter.

The third-year hurler out of Vanderbilt needed 97 pitches to walk five hitters and surrender three hits. Fortunately for the hard-throwing right-hander, the Rangers' offense and bullpen showed up to secure a 6-0 win. Leiter's lack of control forced Skip Schumaker to yank him just one out shy of being eligible for the win.

Rangers fans and the front office are looking for Leiter to make a big step this season

Fans, Schumaker and Chris Young were hoping to see another Keanu Reeves character, John Wick, emerge in Leiter this season with a killer instinct, but that has yet to materialize. Along with MacKenzie Gore and Kumar Rocker, the team is struggling at the back end of their rotation.

Leiter was wild from the get-go and had to work his way out of major jams in the first three frames. The Cubs, who are 27-13 and sitting atop the NL Central, are the hottest team in baseball right now, but couldn't capitalize on being gifted eight baserunners early in the game.

Give Leiter credit for working his tail off to get through all the traffic without allowing an earned run. He did manage to fan six batters in the process. He never really gets knocked around with his electric stuff, so it's frustrating to watch him be his own worst enemy.

Leiter has regressed in over his last six starts

Leiter may have lowered his ERA with 4.2 scoreless, but he looked a lot like the inefficient, easily flustered pitcher who sometimes can't locate his best stuff when he needs it.

In 2025, Leiter wasn't able to deliver quality pitches on the edges of the strike zone and looked afraid to go right at hitters with his plus 4-seam fastball and nasty changeup that goes down and in on righties and down and away on lefties. He would run up high pitch counts early in games, taxing the bullpen.

Over his last six starts, Leiter has given up 20 earned runs in 27 innings pitched, good for a 6.67 ERA, and has issued 17 walks while going 0-3. He has only gotten into the sixth inning three times this season and has yet to pitch into the seventh.

It was a good win for the Rangers behind Josh Jung and Justin Foscue bombs, but the team is going to need Leiter to be much more consistent moving forward if they want to be in contention for the playoffs later this summer.

The schedule does lighten up when the Cubbies leave town, and it is encouraging that, at 18-21, the Rangers have stayed somewhat close to .500 during what has been the toughest first 40 games in the league.

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