Mike Leake (SP, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues

ANALYSIS: Mike Leake shut down the defending NL Champion St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night, pitching 8 shutout innings allowing 4 H, 1 BB and striking out 3.  Currently 4^th in the Reds rotation, Leake has been a successful pitcher since his arrival to the big leagues straight from college.  Leake has a career 43-30 record and an ERA under 4 at 3.95.  If you’re looking for a flame throwing strikeout pitcher, Leake is not your guy but if you want a reliable starter that has a very good offense behind him, then Leake is decent number 8 or 9 SP on a deep league team.  He will have his ups and downs, and likely finish with an ERA slightly north of 4, but any pitcher that can give you 8 shutout innings against the Cardinals has the potential to rack up solid IP - Leake should at least pass the 200 IP mark this year if nothing else.