Leiter expected to start Wednesday vs. White Sox

CHICAGO -- Jack Leiter is set to receive another opportunity in the Major Leagues.

Leiter, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect, is slated to start on Wednesday against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, according to manager Bruce Bochy. The 24-year-old joined Texas in Chicago on Tuesday as part of the Rangers’ taxi squad. He will need to be added to the active 26-man roster on Wednesday.

“He’s all set to go tomorrow,” Bochy said on Tuesday. “Set to go, and I'm looking forward to watching.”

This will mark Leiter’s third stint in the Majors this season. After making his MLB debut on April 18 against the Tigers, he made two more starts in May. The right-hander posted a 16.39 ERA over those three outings, in which he allowed 19 runs (17 earned) on 18 hits and six walks in 9 2/3 innings.

Leiter has put together a strong stretch recently with Triple-A Round Rock. He has a 2.37 ERA in four second-half starts, with 30 strikeouts and just six walks in 19 innings. Over his past two starts, Leiter struck out 20 batters with just two walks in 9 1/3 innings.

A mentality shift on the mound could be one factor behind his success. Leiter is competing and looking to get batters out, whether he makes the perfect pitch or not.

“There comes a time where you have to shift from developing into getting results and having success,” Leiter said. “Making that transition is not always black and white. It's not always this or that, but I think that's kind of the learning curve that everyone goes through. So I hope to carry that efficiency and success from down there up here.”

Leiter has passed the eye test in his past two starts with Round Rock. Along with his numbers in the box scores, he has had an uptick in velocity.

- On Aug. 15 vs. Albuquerque, Leiter’s four-seamer averaged 98.6 mph and maxed out at 100.1 mph. He allowed one run on one hit in 3 2/3 innings, and all 11 outs came on strikeouts.

- On Aug. 21 vs. Salt Lake, his heater averaged 97.8 mph and maxed out at 99.6 mph. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk in 5 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts.

“Part of that was just [being] more efficient and more consistent mechanically,” Leiter said. “And that carries over to easier velocity, I guess you would call it. My dad always liked to say, ‘See how easy you can throw hard?’ Kind of just a loose whippy arm with a consistent delivery. And that helps with execution, and it also helps with the velocity.

“I wouldn't necessarily say I'm ever chasing velocity. I think it comes down to execution. When they go hand in hand, that's great.”

Leiter now will look to carry over his success and lessons in his next opportunity in the Majors.

“He's throwing the ball well,” Bochy said. “He's in a good place on how he's throwing. So we hope that this one goes well for him.”