Leclerc (3-3) was charged with Monday's loss against the Guardians, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one over one-third of an inning.
Starter Michael Lorenzen pitched well enough to win -- he fired seven shutout innings -- but he got little support from the offense or the bullpen, which ceded seven runs over the final two innings. It started with Leclerc, who has allowed runs in three consecutive appearances (five runs, four hits, three walks, three innings). The team's closer to start the season, Leclerc had shifted back to lower-leverage outings and worked his way back with a stretch of nine scoreless innings prior to this recent three-game downturn. His ERA now stands at 6.88 with a 1.71 WHIP and 15 walks over 17 innings.
Leclerc (2-2) earned the win Friday, striking out two over a scoreless eighth inning against Cincinnati.
Leclerc, who earlier this season lost the closer's job, has reclaimed the confidence of manager Bruce Bochy. Friday's outing was his fifth consecutive scoreless appearance, with the last three coming in the eighth inning of games.
Leclerc (1-2) picked up the win Thursday, allowing two walks and striking out two over one scoreless inning in a 9-7 victory over the Tigers.
It was a wild affair in Detroit, as the Tigers came back from 4-0 and 7-4 deficits before the Rangers put it away in the final two innings. For Leclerc, it was his first time in what would be a considered a high-leverage spot since he was removed as the team's closer last weekend. He entered with two outs and two inherited runners in the seventh inning and escaped without damage. He became the pitcher of record an inning later when Texas broke a 7-7 tie. He worked around a pair of walks in the eighth before Kirby Yates came in for a four-out save. Since Leclerc lost the closer's job, the right-hander has not allowed a run and struck out six over four innings.
