Leake helps himself for first win: Reds pitcher Mike Leake put together a solid all-around performance in his outing against the Braves on Monday. He allowed one run on two hits over eight innings of work to record his first win of the season. He also went 1 for 3 with a home run in the 4-1 victory. The right-hander surrendered a solo homer to Juan Francisco in the second for his lone damage before retiring 14 consecutive batters. He launched the first long ball of his career off his counterpart -- Mike Minor -- in the fourth. Leake also struck out six and walked one while throwing 98 pitches, 68 for strikes. After the contest, Leake told the Dayton Daily News that his back tightened up between the eighth and ninth inning. “I pulled myself because my back was tightening up a little bit,” he said. “When I sat down, it got tight. I didn’t want to take any chances.” (Updated 05/21/2012)
Injury Report
Back - Probable for May 26 start vs. Colorado (Updated - 5/22/12)
Fantasy Analysis
Leake finally got in the win column after taking some tough losses and no-decisions over his first seven outings. He lowered his ERA from 6.21 to 5.32 on Monday and has now allowed just two earned runs over his last two starts. The 24-year-old would have more value in Fantasy if he was more consistent but Leake remains a viable option in NL-only formats heading into his second start of Week 8 (May 21-27). He is scheduled to pitch next on Saturday against the Rockies. In one start against Colorado a year ago, Leake allowed two runs over 7 1/3 innings in the win. (Updated 05/21/2012).
05/22/2012 14:32 Video: Reds homer back-to-back-to-back as fan catches two of them
Monday night, the Reds beat the Braves on the strength of back-to-back-to-back homers from pitcher Mike Leake, shortstop Zack Cozart and center fielder Drew Stubbs in the fourth inning. One fan caught the Leake and Cozart homer balls.
05/21/2012 21:58 Reds' Leake earns win, first career HR
Right-hander Mike Leake hit his first career homer - part of three solo shots in a row by the Cincinnati Reds - and allowed only two hits over eight innings Monday night for a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
05/16/2012 22:44 Local product powers Reds past Mets
Todd Frazier hit two home runs, Brandon Phillips hit a tying single off Jon Rauch in the eighth and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 6-3 on Wednesday night.
Mike Leake got off to a rough start in 2011 but a trip to the minors ended up turning his season around. He posted a 5.77 ERA over his first six outings and was sent to the bullpen. After making three relief appearances, he was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. But the right-hander was re-called at the end of May and took off with a second chance to start again. He would go 9-7 with a 3.36 ERA over his final 20 starts, with an 86-to-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 131 1/3 innings pitched. Leake will compete for one of the final spots in the rotation during spring training and after having his innings limited in each of his first two years in the majors, will finally be cut loose. Keep an eye on how the 24-year-old does as it will go a long way for his Fantasy value. As a starter, Leake is worth a look in deeper mixed leagues but pitching out of the bullpen, he will barely hold value in NL-only formats. (Updated 1/25/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start