NL Cy Young candidates after the first two months of the season
By Anthony Sosa
Mike Leake
After seven seasons of decent pitching, St. Louis Cardinals starter Mike Leake is off to the best start to a season in his career. Pitching for the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants in previous seasons, the Cardinals signed Leake to a five-year, $80 million deal before the 2016 season.
In his first season in St. Louis, Leake didn’t live up to expectations. He finished 2016 with a 9-12 record, 4.69 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.319 WHIP and 125 strikeouts. A down season from Leake contributed to the Cardinals missing the playoffs in 2016.
Flash forward to 2017 and Leake looks like a different pitcher. So far this season, Leake sports a record of 5-3, 2.24 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 0.937 WHIP and 48 strikeouts.
Leake ranks No. 1 in bWAR for pitchers in the NL at 2.6. His ERA also ranks best in the NL. His WHIP ranks sixth best in baseball.
Leake is outperforming his career stats by a long shot. His career numbers include a 78-67 record, 3.90 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 1.260 WHIP and 903 strikeouts. Leake’s stellar numbers in 2017 are helping the Cardinals stay in the NL Central race. They sit at 26-26 and are 1.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The last Cardinals pitcher to win the Cy Young award was Chris Carpenter in 2005. Twelve years later, Leake looks to win that award as a Redbird too.