Synopsis: Giolito evolved from one of the worst starters in the majors last season to one of the best in the first half and figures to be selected to the AL All-Star team, possibly as the starter. Lopez has regressed in his second full season, while the losses of Rodon and Kopech to Tommy John surgery and the disappointment of 2015 first-round pick Carson Fulmer led to patchwork fixes, including Nova and Banuelos. Jackson was a consensus bust as Epstein’s first major free-agent signee, but the rest of the rotation paid dividends. Samardzija had a 2.60 ERA in mid-June of 2014 en route to an All-Star Game selection. He wound up on the AL roster when Epstein sent him and Hammel to the A’s on July 5 in a deal that brought back Russell, a highly rated prospect. Arrieta was just starting to show what he could do after being sidelined early with a shoulder injury, striking out a career-high 11 hitters in a 6-1 win over the Marlins on June 18 and improving to 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA.