Mark Leiter Jr. - Page 8 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports

Earns first win of season Leiter (1-1) pitched a scoreless 10th inning in relief and earned the win Wednesday against the Brewers. He struck out one.

Impact With the Cubs having already used five pitchers through nine innings, Leiter got the 10th, which meant a runner starting on second base. He started the frame with a strikeout, but then a wild pitch advanced the runner to third with one out. Leiter got out of the pickle with a fielder's choice groundout to second baseman Nick Madrigal, who nailed the runner at the plate. The righty then got Tyrone Taylor to fly out to end the inning, and he earned his first win of 2022 when the Cubs scored in the bottom of the inning for the 4-3 victory. Leiter still doesn't have a ton of fantasy value at this point with a low-leverage role and a 6.08 ERA on the year.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Moves up to bigs The Cubs recalled Leiter from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Leiter will be available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game against the White Sox, but if the right-hander isn't needed, he could slot into the rotation for one half of Monday's doubleheader with the Brewers as a replacement for Wade Miley (shoulder), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. The Cubs still have five other healthy members of their rotation, but Leiter could still line up for a two-start week since Monday's doubleheader is followed by a twin bill five days later against the Cardinals.

MAY 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sent down Wednesday Leiter was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.

Impact Leiter spent a week with the major-league club but made just one relief appearance during his stint with the Cubs. He's posted a 6.57 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 12.1 innings over five appearances (three starts) in the big leagues this year but will return to Iowa after David Robertson (undisclosed) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Back in big leagues The Cubs recalled Leiter from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.

Impact Leiter, who posted a 7.84 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 10.1 innings over four appearances (three starts) during a two-week stint with the big club in April, will be rejoining the Cubs as a reliever ahead of Wednesday's series finale in San Diego. Keegan Thompson is scheduled to start Wednesday, but since he hasn't worked more than four innings in any of his appearances this season and is pitching on three days' rest, Leiter could be needed to cover multiple innings behind him.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Iowa Leiter was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Leiter has failed to impress in three starts and one relief appearance this season. He owns a 7.84 ERA and 1.74 WHIP, striking out just 20.4 percent of opposing batters while walking 14.3 percent. Locke St. John was recalled to take his place on the roster.

APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Short outing Wednesday Leiter didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-3 extra-inning win over Atlanta, giving up two hits and a walk over two scoreless innings. He didn't strike out a batter.

Impact The 31-year-old righty needed 45 pitches (26 strikes) to get his six outs before making way for Keegan Thompson. It was Leiter's shortest outing yet in three starts since being plugged into the Cubs' rotation, but he hasn't lasted more than four innings in any of them, and his 8.68 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 7:7 K:BB through 9.1 IP give fantasy GMs little reason to roster him.

APRIL 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pitches better Thursday Leiter allowed two runs on three hits across four innings and did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Pirates. He walked two and struck out three.

Impact This was better than Leiter's first start of the season, when he allowed seven runs across 3.1 innings at Coors Field. A Daniel Vogelbach two-run home run accounted for all of the damage against the righty, who was limited to 72 pitches in his second appearance of the year. Leiter figures to stick in the rotation for now with Wade Miley (elbow) and Alec Mills (back) on the injured list. He's slated to pitch again Wednesday against Atlanta, but he may move into the bullpen after that.

APRIL 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up another start Leiter will start Thursday's game against the Pirates in Chicago.

Impact Despite getting lit up for seven earned runs over 3.1 innings in his Cubs debut last weekend in Colorado, Leiter will make a second turn in the rotation while starting pitchers Wade Miley (elbow) and Alec Mills (back) remain on the injured list. Once one of those two pitchers are healthy, Leiter will likely lose his spot in rotation, and potentially his spot on the 40-man roster, too.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tagged for seven runs Leiter (0-1) allowed seven runs on five hits across 3.1 innings to take the loss Saturday against the Rockies. He walked four and struck out four.

Impact Leiter was too hittable to succeed at Coors Field, and the walks didn't help the cause either. The big blow was a C.J. Cron two-run home run in the third inning, which came after two free passes in the frame. Leiter was making his first MLB appearance since 2018, so it was probably wise to temper expectations, especially in such a notorious hitter's park. The 31-year-old may stick in the rotation, however, with Wade Miley (elbow) and Alec Mills (back) both out. Leiter may also shift into a long-relief role moving forward.

APRIL 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Contract selected prior to start Leiter's contract was selected by the Cubs ahead of Saturday's start against the Rockies, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Manager David Ross confirmed Friday that Leiter would serve as Saturday's starter, and the right-hander is officially in line to make his first major-league appearance since 2018. In his lone start at Triple-A Iowa to begin the season, he allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out seven in four innings. Since Wade Miley (elbow) and Alec Mills (back) remain out, Leiter will likely be a candidate to remain in the rotation until his teammates are cleared to return.

APRIL 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE