One year after posting a career-best ERA, Miguel Gonzalez posted his career worst

So why did Miguel Gonzalez pitch so well in 2014, and for much of his first three years with the Orioles, only to struggle in 2015?

Was it all about injuries? Did the league catch up to him? If so, why didn't that happen during the 2014 season? Is his stuff just not good enough?

At one time, it seemed Gonzalez was the Orioles' most underrated and/or underappreciated starter. Now, after his 2015 campaign, there are certainly some that feel his spot in the 2016 Orioles rotation is far from secure.

In 27 games in 2014, Gonzalez went 10-9 with an ERA of 3.23 over 159 innings. In his last 13 starts, beginning July 1, he went 6-4 with a 2.09 ERA. Also in 2014, Gonzalez led all O's starters in ERA, was second in innings per start (6.04) and went 5-2 with a 2.78 ERA against American League East opponents.

Gonzalez has been good for most of his career against the AL East, going 22-12 with a 3.21 ERA in 52 games (49 starts). By comparison, free agent left-hander Wei-Yin Chen has gone 16-19 with a 4.06 ERA in 52 career starts within the division.

But this season, Gonzalez went 9-12 with an ERA of 4.91, a career worst. His batting average against jumped from .255 in 2014 to .270 and his WHIP from 1.296 to 1.396. Gonzalez allowed three earned runs or less in 23 of 26 starts two years ago and in just 15 of 26 starts last season.

From 2012-14, Gonzalez went 30-21 with an ERA of 3.45 and the Orioles went 40-29 (.580) in his starts. Last year, they went 12-14 (.462) when Gonzalez took the mound.

We can point to injuries as a factor for Gonzalez. His ERA was 3.33 on June 10 when he went on the disabled list with a right groin strain. On Sept. 4 (retroactive to Aug. 31), he went on the DL again with right shoulder tendinitis. He got a cortisone injection and returned to make one last start before the season ended.

The case for Gonzalez bouncing back to pitch well again in 2016 could be made by his three-year track record going into 2015. The case for him to potentially struggle again could be made by the fact some of his stats have declined every year from 2012 through last year.

For instance, his hits per nine innings starting in 2012 is 7.9, 8.2, 8.8 and 9.4. His WHIP has gone up each season as well since 2012 from 1.206 to 1.226 to 1.296 and then 1.396 last season.

Gonzalez does not throw hard, and we know he is not a big strikeout pitcher and he needs his good command to win. But he and the Orioles won a lot when he took the mound from 2012-14. Which Gonzalez will the Orioles get next season?