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St. Louis -- After signing a five year, $80 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in the winter, Mike Leake found himself off to a rough start with the team he is slated to be with until 2020. In his first six starts he surrendered twenty-three runs and struck out only twenty-two batters.
In his last two starts he has stuck out twenty-one. Only Leake and Bob Gibson have pitched back-to-back games where they have struck out ten and walked no one for the Cardinals.
"I just thought, you know, maybe I should start pitching excellently and see what happens," Leake may or may not have said, "So far, the results have been pretty positive."
"It also does not hurt that the Padres have the eighth worst offense in the league by wRC+," he probably added with a shrug, "The Brewers are even worse, at like, fourth, I think. And both teams are in the top three in strikeout rate."
Whether it is the quality of offenses he has faced, or his new strategy is paying off remains to be seen, but the results are undeniable.
[end incredibly parched satire]
Leake holds the fort until Cards break game open | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
Mike Leake, St. Louis Cardinals' rotation finding another gear | St Louis Cardinals | ESPN
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- Leake holds the fort until Cards break game open | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
- Mike Leake, St. Louis Cardinals' rotation finding another gear | St Louis Cardinals | ESPN
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