Cards' Leake looks to continue dominance against Marlins
MIAMI -- For a visitor, Mike Leake sure feels at home at Marlins Park.
The St. Louis Cardinals right-hander is 3-0 with a 0.44 ERA in three starts here. It's the lowest ERA of any pitcher who has made at least that many starts at Marlins Park.
On Friday night, Leake gets the chance to extend his streak against a Marlins team he dominates. In six starts against the Marlins overall, Leake is 5-1 with a 1.33 ERA and .194 batting average against.
No active major-leaguer has a better ERA against the Marlins (minimum five starts).
The key for Leake is his control, which has been pin-point lately. He has gone a career-high 25 consecutive innings without allowing a walk.
Leake, 28, last faced the Marlins on July 10, 2015, when he beat them 1-0 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Leake struck out a season-high 10 batters in eight innings on that day.
This year with the Cardinals, Leake has been mediocre -- 7-8 with a 4.24 ERA. On Friday, he will be opposed by Marlins second-year right-hander Jose Urena (1-2, 5.34 ERA).
Urena is essentially getting his sixth chance with the Marlins. He has been demoted back to the minors five times previously, but is making the most of this opportunity.
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In two starts since returning from his most recent detour to Triple-A New Orleans, Urena is 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA, allowing only two runs in 11 2/3 innings.
The 24-year-old Dominican doesn't have any great revelations about what is different now than previous failed bids to remain in the majors. He mentions "being aggressive" in going after hitters and "keeping the ball down."
But virtually every pitcher tries to throw strikes early in the county. And virtually every pitcher tries to keep the ball down.
Trying to do those things and doing them are two entirely different items.
But this much is for sure: If Urena, who had a 7.52 ERA in 16 relief appearances for the Marlins earlier this season, can turn in another solid outing against the Cards on Friday, the Marlins will feel a lot better about their rotation.
In other story lines for Friday's game:
--Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki needs two hits for 3,000. There is a good chance Suzuki, who recorded a pinch-hit double Thursday, starts Friday.
--It will be interesting to note the progress of Marlins two-time All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon, who missed the previous 80 games after a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.
Gordon, who led the National League in batting average (.333) and steals (58) last season, went 0-for-4 with one strikeout Thursday.
"I thought Dee seemed a little quiet and probably a little nervous," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "As the game went on, he seemed more like himself."
