The Texas Rangers face a pitching dilemma as injuries to Cody Bradford and Jon Gray leave gaps in their rotation. Young stars Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are poised to step up, yet the team remains cautious. Despite their pedigree as top draft picks, the Rangers' management is hesitant to secure their roles without assuring their performance during spring training. In recent outings, Leiter struggled with control while Rocker has yet to find consistency. Head coach Bruce Bochy emphasizes the importance of reliable innings from these emerging pitchers to assist veterans like Jacob deGrom, who will be limited early in the season.

The team is weighing other options as they explore free agents to fill the void. Veteran Adrian Houser’s less-than-stellar ERA raises concerns about relying on him, indicating that the pressure is mounting for the young pitchers to deliver. With just a week left in spring training, the spotlight is on Leiter and Rocker to prove they can handle the pressure of a major league rotation.