league game since 2010. In his next start he fanned 10 Oakland batters without issuing a walk during six innings of one-run ball to win his second consecutive start. It was the first time winning back-to-back starts since his 2010 season. While not consistently regaining his former velocity, Kazmir's ability to better command his pitches helped him to have a season that saw him come in third in the voting for the 2013 American League Comeback Player of the Year Kazmir started 29 games (his most since 2007), posted a 10–9 record (most wins since 2009), and had a career-best strikeout to walk ratio of 3.45. Oakland Athletics 2014 season After his resurgent season in Cleveland, Kazmir signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Oakland Athletics on December 3, 2013. Kazmir pitched 190 innings for the A's in 2014, the second-highest total of his career, and finished the season with a 3.55 ERA and 15 wins, a career high. Although his strikeouts per 9 innings rate dropped sharply from the previous season (9.2 to 7.8), Kazmir posted a career-best walks/hits per 9 inning rate (1.161) and was named to the 2014 AL All-Star team, his third appearance in the game and first since 2008. He was less effective in the second half, and his ERA rose over a full run from the All-Star break until the end of the season. 2015 season In 2015, Kazmir began the season as the A's third starter and enjoyed one of the most effective extended stretches of his major league career. Over his first 18 starts, Kazmir's 2.38 ERA and ratios of 8.3 strikeouts and 6.9 hits per nine innings were among the best in the American League. He was also consistent, only once giving up more than three earned runs in a start during that span. The A's were not in serious contention for a playoff spot as the trade deadline approached, and Kazmir was rumored to be a potential acquisition target for several teams seeking to improve their starting pitching. On July 23, 2015, he was traded to the Houston Astros for two prospects - catcher Jacob Nottingham and pitcher Daniel Mengden. Houston Astros Rest of the 2015 season Kazmir won his debut with the hometown Astros, going seven innings and giving up three hits with three strikeouts in a 4–0 Astros victory over the Kansas City Royals. However, he was