Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday. This comes a day after Rocker gave up five runs over 1 2/3 innings of work during Wednesday's game against the Athletics. Rangers' manager Bruce Bochy said Rocker is dealing with a mild right shoulder impingement. The young right-hander has only made it through the fifth inning once so far this season. He has a ton of potential, but a little time off might be good for him. Jack Leiter (hand) is expected to rejoin the rotation soon, so he'll likely take over the void in the rotation.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker picked up his first win of the season on Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits over seven innings against the Angels. He struck out eight and walked none, which is encouraging to see after he started the season with a 6:4 K:BB through three starts. His ERA still sits at 6.38 thanks to his rocky start to the year, but he'll look to further improve that in his next time out which is set to be against the Athletics. The former top prospect still has too much upside to ignore for fantasy.

Texas Rangers starting pitching prospect Kumar Rocker allowed seven hits and six earned runs during his season debut on Monday evening against the Cincinnati Reds. Rocker was able to log just three innings of work. He tallied three punchouts but served up two walks. Rocker ran into trouble early as he allowed a leadoff single to TJ Friedl and then a two-run shot by the next batter, Matt McLain. In the second frame, he would allow another long ball, this time to shortstop Elly De La Cruz, which also scored Jose Trevino and McLain. Rocker was able to make the rotation given the injuries to Jon Gray (wrist) and Cody Bradford (elbow). Fantasy managers should monitor his second start as he could be in danger of moving to the bullpen or Triple-A if he has another rough outing. He received a brief look at the majors last season and held a 3.86 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings. He is projected to face the Tampa Bay Rays in his next start.

Texas Rangers starting pitching prospect Kumar Rocker has earned a role in the starting rotation. Rocker was competing for a spot during camp. During spring training, the Vanderbilt product tossed nine innings and held a 13.00 ERA with a 2.33 WHIP. However, over his final start, Rocker turned the corner as he tallied eight punchouts across four 2/3 innings of two-run ball. Fellow top prospect Jack Leiter also earned a spot in the rotation with Cody Bradford (elbow) and Jon Gray (wrist) sidelined. Rocker made his brief MLB debut last summer and held a 3.86 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings. In the minor leagues, Rocker posted a strong 1.96 ERA and a stellar 0.79 WHIP across 36 2/3 cumulative innings across Double and Triple-A. Given his prospect pedigree and success in the upper levels of the minor leagues, Rocker is worth adding in all 12-team formats as a high-upside starting pitcher.

Texas Rangers pitching prospect Kumar Rocker tossed 4 2/3 innings on Thursday, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight in the 7-4 Cactus League loss to the Rockies. It was a step in the right direction after the 6-foot-5 hurler had given up 11 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched while striking out just four batters over his first three starts. The former first-rounder threw 47 of 76 pitches for strikes and also recorded 12 whiffs and averaged 97.2 mph on his four-seamer. The final rotation spot is a competition between Rocker and Jack Leiter. While Thursday's start helps Rocker's case, Leiter likely has the inside track with a better performance this spring andmore MLB experience. Both are worthy of a roster spot in deeper fantasy leagues when they are in the rotation, but that might be later this year for one of them.

Texas Rangers right-handed pitching prospects Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, who were teammates at Vanderbilt, are both competing for the open spot in the starting rotation now that it's confirmed that left-hander Cody Bradford (elbow) will open the year on the injured list. If we had to bet, Leiter would be the favorite -- not only because he's looked better this spring, but because he has more big-league experience. The 24-year-old has shown increased velocity in camp and has allowed only three runs on seven hits while walking six and striking out 13 in four games (one start) covering 10 2/3 innings. Although he had an ERA over 8.00 and a 1.71 WHIP, Leiter pitched in nine games (six starts) in the big leagues in 2024. Rocker, meanwhile, made three starts last year but has allowed eight earned runs while walking two and striking out only two in just two Cactus League innings in his two starts.

Texas Rangers starting pitching prospect Kumar Rocker tossed three shutout innings during an intrasquad contest. Rocker has gotten off to a rough start during spring training, allowing eight hits and eight earned runs across two innings. He has served up two free passes and only tallied two punchouts. Earlier in the week, Rocker also went to the Rangers pitching lab to find his footing. Rocker is competing for a spot at the back of the starting rotation. However, given his disappointing start to spring training, Rocker may be sent to Triple-A to begin the campaign. The Vanderbilt product has battled numerous injuries throughout his young career, which has limited his playing time. Last season, he received a brief taste of the majors and held a 3.36 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings. If Rocker were to open the season in the minor leagues, Cody Bradford would likely claim the No. 5 spot.

Texas Rangers starting pitching prospect Kumar Rocker struggled in his second outing of spring training. He was given the starting nod but was only able to log an inning of work as he served up four earned runs to the Milwaukee Brewers. In his first outing, he also allowed four runs. The 25-year-old entered camp as a favorite to land a spot in the starting rotation, but if he continues to stumble, the team may opt to have him open the campaign at Triple-A to further his development. He was given a brief look at the majors last summer and held a 3.86 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings. Across 36 2/3 innings in the minor leagues last season, the right-hander posted a strong 1.96 ERA with a 0.79 WHIP. He held an elite 5:55 BB:K ratio. If Rocker were to open the season at Triple-A, Dane Dunning could be given a starting role.

Texas Rangers starting pitching prospect Kumar Rocker struggled in his spring debut on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals. Rocker tossed one inning of work but allowed a hefty four runs and four hits. He only tallied one punchout. He allowed two doubles, one to Vinnie Pasquantino and the other to Nick Pratto, which brought in all four runs. Rocker is expected to compete for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. However, given this debut, he may have to open the season in the minor leagues. Rocker has battled numerous injuries throughout his young career. Last summer, he logged a career-high 36 2/3 innings in the minor leagues. Across three levels, he held a strong 1.96 ERA with a 0.79 WHIP. This earned him a late-season MLB debut, where he logged 11 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.86 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. Cody Bradford or Dane Dunning could take his spot in the rotation if he continues to struggle.

MLB.com's Kennedi Landry projects both Texas Rangers rookie right-handers Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter will be on the outside looking in for starting rotation spots on Opening Day in 2025. As things currently stand with everyone healthy, the Rangers' rotation projects to be headlined by Jacob deGrom, followed by Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Cody Bradford and Tyler Mahle. Both Rocker and Leiter, who were also teammates at Vanderbilt in college, project to open the season at Triple-A Round Rock to provide rotation depth. Rocker, 25, returned from Tommy John surgery in 2024 to make his first three big-league starts, going 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 11 2/3 frames. Leiter, 24, made nine appearances (six starts) for the Rangers and was extremely inconsistent with an 8.83 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 35 2/3 innings pitched.

Texas Rangers pitchers Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker were both optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday. As part of the move pitchers Marc Church and Daniel Robert were recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. The move was simply to preserve Leiter and Rocker's arms and give the Rangers a couple new arms to finish the season. Leiter pitched to an underwhelming 8.83 ERA with a 1.710 WHIP. Rocker recorded a 3.86 ERA in 11.2 IP, though his 1.543 WHIP suggests his ERA could have ended higher. Both Leiter and Rocker appear to be in the Rangers' plans for 2025, though dynasty managers will likely want to keep a closer eye on Rocker than Leiter. Church could be a solid option out of the Rangers' bullpen to finish the season and has impressed at Triple-A, recording a 3.22 ERA and a 9.7 K/9 in 22.1 IP. Robert previously appeared in three games for the Rangers in July, giving up only two ER in 4.2 IP.

Texas Rangers right-handed pitching prospect Kumar Rocker is making his second career major-league start on Thursday at Globe Life Field against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. Rocker, the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, went four innings in his major-league debut on Sept. 12 against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and allowed just one earned run on three hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out seven to earn another start. With the Rangers out of playoff contention despite winning the World Series last fall, they have elected to give Rocker a little run in the big leagues to close out the year after he was dominant down on the farm in 2024 after coming back from Tommy John surgery. Rocker may not go deep in Thursday's contest, but he still has plenty of strikeout upside. There's a good chance he'll make one more start before the season is over.