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Leake is back in familiar territory for rubber game of Cards-Reds
CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds are in the midst of a rebuilding process centered around their young pitching. On Thursday, they'll face St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Mike Leake, who was an integral part of the Reds' future when they selected him eighth overall in the 2009 draft.
Leake, whom the Reds traded to the San Francisco Giants at the non-waiver deadline last July, was signed by the Cardinals as a free agent in December. He's 8-8 with a 4.50 ERA in 21 starts this season for St. Louis. He'll be making his second career start against Cincinnati.
Throughout his career, Leake has been an innings-eater who's able to limit his walks and be pitch-efficient without relying on strikeouts. His first season in a Cardinals uniform has been no different.
Coming into Thursday's start at Great American Ball Park, Leake has not walked a batter in a career-high 30 straight innings, the longest active streak in the major leagues and second-longest this season.
Despite his outstanding control, Leake has given up his share of runs this season. He allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings in his last start. In his only other meeting against the Reds, the 28-year-old San Diego native allowed six runs and 10 hits while escaping with a no-decision in a 7-6 walk-off Cincinnati win June 7 at Great American Ball Park, where he has 34 victories.
Cincinnati's starter in Thursday's finale of a three-game series is left-hander Brandon Finnegan, whom the Reds got from the Kansas City Royals last July in the Johnny Cueto trade.
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Finnegan has been a victim of tough luck this season, though not in his last start Friday, when he tossed six shutout innings in a 6-0 win at San Diego.
He has 10 quality starts but three times was the victim of a blown save and was the Reds' starter on April 21 when the Cubs' Jake Arrieta tossed a no-hitter at Great American Ball Park. Finnegan suffered a 1-0 loss on May 23 at Dodger Stadium.
The Reds hope to have shortstop Zack Cozart back in the lineup Thursday after he missed two starts with a bruised right ring finger.
"He did make great improvements from last night," Reds manager Bryan Price said Wednesday. "but this gives him a chance to go through more treatment and be in there tomorrow."
Cincinnati won Tuesday's opener on Scott Schebler's three-run, walk-off home run. The Cardinals rebounded with a 5-4 victory Wednesday behind a pair of doubles and two RBIs by Brandon Moss, Stephen Piscotty's homer and solid relief work.
The Cardinals come into Thursday's rubber game having won 18 of the past 22 series against the Reds. In the last 11 series at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati has won only three.
"We've got talent out there," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "Some days it's just easier than others for whatever reason. It's never easy. Some days it's hard to get anything to go your way."
