The Major League Baseball All-New England team
By Conor Duffy
Aug 16, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Locke (49) throws during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit:
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
#4 Starter
- Jeff Locke (Pittsburgh Pirates)– North Conway, NH
Locke was one of the bigger surprises for a an inherently surprising Pirates team which made the playoffs for the first time in 20 seasons last year. In his first full season in Pittsburgh, Locke made the All-Star team with an excellent 2.15 ERA in the first half and, while he faltered down the stretch and even found himself back in Triple-A Indianapolis, he finished the season with a respectable 3.52 ERA. Locke has been similarly solid in 14 starts this season as he owns a 3.73 ERA and has trimmed his walk rate from 4.5 per nine last season to a much-improved 1.9 mark in 2014.