A look at the Houston Astros improved starting pitching in 2014

(Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

Brett Oberholtzer

Oberholtzer was 5-13 with a 4.39 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, .295 BAA and 5.89 K/ratio. He started off the year slow, but bounced back nicely and made huge strides in just his second season in the majors. Obie had 94 strikeouts while allowing 170 hits, 28 walks, 70 earned runs, and 12 home runs in 24 starts  (143.2 innings pitched). He was optioned to the minor leagues in early July, but bounced back to pitch well for the Astros the rest of the season.

After re-joining the team, Obie threw a quality start in nine of his first 10 games and was 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in his first six outings back. After that stretch, he finished the year off pitching pretty inconsistently, but did a nice job of limiting walks and mistakes.  The 25-year-old lefty will get another chance to be in the rotation next season because the strides he made in year two.