The ups and downs on the mound in 2014 continues  for the pitchers around the game of baseball. This has been the case in 2014 with pitchers around the game of baseball as we have seen some of the games best pitchers headlines the list of league leaders while others have taken a big step back. This has also been the case for some of the games lesser known starters as well this season.

The first area you notice a big change in the pitchers that are leading the way is with earned run average. If you look at the list of top 10 earned run averages in all of baseball from both this year and last the entire list has ten different pitchers on it including some sleepers none of us might have expected. This gives us a chance to look at pitchers who have impressed this season and the ones that have struggled.

Top Performing Pitchers in 2014:

Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds: Cueto’s win/loss record doesn’t justify how well he has pitched in 2014. In 63 innings this season Cueto has allowed 10 earned runs while striking out 68 batters. This comes after a season in which Cueto only made 11 starts due to injuries. Cueto has pitched at least seven innings in all eight starts and has allowed no more than two runs in any start. Cueto currently leads the majors with a 1.43 earned run average and only trails Jose Fernandez in strikeouts.

Mark Buehrle, Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays lefty is currently tied for the major league lead with six wins this season. Buerhle has also pitched to the fourth best earned run average in baseball at 1.91 in seven starts this season. This comes after a 2010 season in which he finished with a 12-10 record and 4.15 earned run average.

Tom Koehler, Miami Marlins: Koehler has dominated for the Marlins this season in seven starts pitching to a 1.99 earned run average. The downside for his fantasy owners is the Marlins have struggled in games he has started scoring less than two runs in four of his seven starts.

Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers:  Rodriguez leads the league in saves with 15 while only allowing one earned run in 20 innings pitched.

Top Under Performing Pitchers in 2014:

Bartolo Colon, New York Mets: After finishing the 2013 MLB season with a 18-6 record and a 2.65 earned run average Colon left the A’s to sign with the Mets. Unfortunately for the Mets, they haven’t received the same results as Colon is 2-5 with a 5.36 earned run average in seven starts in 2014.

CC Sabathia, New York Yankees: Sabathia has struggled with velocity in 2014 and it has shown up in both his wins and earned run stats. Sabathia is tied for tenth for most losses  with four while allowing the sixth highest earned run average in baseball at 5.28. The alarming stat is his 32 strikeouts over 44.2 innings this season.