Looking at the rotation, it just makes more sense for the Mariners to invest in Kikuchi, Gonzales, and Leblanc. While the former two are younger than Leake, Leblanc was more consistent last year and deserves the injury benefit of the doubt this season.
So even though Mike Leake is clearly the Mariners’ fifth-best starter, he is still an asset. His main problem is that he is a Jekyll-Hyde starter.
When he’s on, he is an inning eater and will give you a quality start. Including today’s win, Leake has pitched six innings or more allowing two earned runs or less.