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The Cincinnati Reds have placed Mike Leake on the active roster, in place of injured ace Johnny Cueto, and Leake will start Game 4 of the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants. Leake finished the regular season with an 8-9 record and 4.58 ERA in 30 starts.
Johnny Cueto has been removed from the team's playoff roster after suffering back spasms in the first inning of his Game 1 NLDS start against the Giants. Cueto left the game immediately after feeling pain in his back, and the pitcher is ineligible to pitch in the NLCS. Health permitting, he could be added to the Reds' potential World Series roster.
The Giants faced Leake once this season, back on June 29. The right-hander tossed a complete game, giving up one run on nine hits and striking out four in the Reds' 5-1 victory. Leake did struggle down the stretch, going 1-1 with a 5.48 ERA over his last four starts.
The Giants will send Barry Zito to the mound in hopes of staving off elimination once again when they face the Reds for Game 4 at 1:07 p.m. PT on Wednesday.