Mike Leake (SP, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Own in 12+ Team Leagues/NL-only leagues

OWNED IN: 30% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: The Reds pitching has had a lot of problems over the past couple seasons, but Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman, and Mike Leake have shown consistency during that time frame. Leake threw over 200 innings for the first time in his career last season and he has started in over 30 games each of the past three seasons.

With Mike Leake, fantasy owners can count on consistent, solid performances. Leake is not a strikeout pitcher as he owns a career 6.14 K/9 and has never struck out more than 6.89 batters per nine innings. He is very good at keeping the ball on the ground as he owns a career GB rate of 50% and that is crucial in a ballpark like Great American Ballpark. Every now and again, Leake will go through a stretch where his sinker rises too much and he gets hit hard, but for the most part seven innings of 2-3 run ball is the norm for him. Fantasy owners in need of starting pitching could do worse than to pick up the Reds right-hander just as long as they don’t expect him to be the guy who owns a 2.47 ERA for the rest of the season.