Rangers Defeat Orioles in Series Opener

Texas takes Game 1 behind strong pitching from Jack Leiter

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:56am

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The Texas Rangers defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 in the opening game of their 3-game series on Monday night. Rangers starter Jack Leiter pitched 6 strong innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts to earn the win. First baseman Jake Burger led the Rangers' offense with 2 hits, including a double, and 2 RBIs.

Why it matters

The Rangers and Orioles are both looking to bounce back and contend in the AL this season after disappointing 2025 campaigns. This early series could set the tone for the rest of their matchups and provide a glimpse into which team has the upper hand.

The details

In the series opener, the Rangers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and held on for the 5-2 victory. Leiter was dominant on the mound, while Burger provided the offensive spark with his 2-hit, 2-RBI performance. The Orioles struggled at the plate, going just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and committed 2 errors that led to unearned runs.

  • The Rangers and Orioles played the first game of their 3-game series on Monday, March 31, 2026.
  • First pitch for Game 2 is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 1, 2026.

The players

Jack Leiter

The Rangers' starting pitcher, who earned the win after throwing 6 innings of 2-run ball with 8 strikeouts.

Jake Burger

The Rangers' first baseman, who went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs to lead the offense.

Gunnar Henderson

The Orioles' shortstop, who provided the only offensive spark for Baltimore with a home run and 2 RBIs.

Chris Bassitt

The Orioles' starting pitcher, who took the loss after allowing 4 runs (4 earned) in 4.1 innings.

Tyler Alexander

The Rangers' relief pitcher, who earned his second save of the season.

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What they’re saying

“We came out flat tonight, but we'll be ready to bounce back tomorrow.”

— Gunnar Henderson, Orioles Shortstop

“Jack was outstanding on the mound, and Jake gave us a big lift at the plate. It was a total team effort to get this win.”

— Chris Woodward, Rangers Manager

What’s next

The Rangers and Orioles will continue their 3-game series on Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET. Texas will send ace Jacob deGrom to the mound, while Baltimore counters with Zach Eflin.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the Rangers and Orioles showcased the strengths of the Rangers, who got dominant pitching and timely hitting to take the series opener. If Baltimore's offense continues to struggle, they'll have a tough time keeping up with a talented Rangers squad that appears poised to make a run in the AL this year.