It’s going to be difficult for the Rangers to put together any sort of sustained winning when two of the five pitchers in their rotation don’t put them in a winning position with each start they make.

Yes, the Rangers should expect to win when Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi take the mound, although Eovaldi hasn’t been nearly as automatic as he has been in the past. Being a 38-year-old pitcher tends to do that.

Kumar Rocker is actually having a better season than Eovaldi. 

But when it comes to MacKenzie Gore and last night’s starter Jack Leiter, all bets are off. Well, if one was a betting man, one would bet against the Rangers when either Gore or Leiter start—but betting on sports will only land you in the poor house or the starting quarterback role at Texas Tech. 

Last night in Boston, Leiter’s struggles continued. His defense didn’t do him any favors as Rangers Manager Skip Schumaker decided—against any sort of logic—to put a second baseman in left field, and it showed on balls Nicky Lopez misplayed into doubles. But Leiter couldn’t overcome shaky defense or his lack of command, giving up five earned runs on five hits and two walks in five innings of a 10-1 beatdown at the hands of the Red Sox. 

Leiter’s ERA is now just a touch under 5.00, at 4.97, and climbing, having given up 18 runs in his last five starts. 

The Rangers playing over .500 is nice, and it feels good, and it gives fans hope. But the reality is, unless there is some major adjustment in Leiter and Gore, and Eovaldi regains his dominance, this team’s rotation just isn’t strong enough.

That’s what happens when a team is built to field a team 162 times a season, and not built to win.

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