Rick Anderson vs. Bert Cole — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Rick Anderson and Bert Cole are fairly close on the surface numbers. Bert Cole posted stronger numbers in WHIP (1.593 vs 2.083) and home runs allowed (0.39 per nine innings vs 0.75). Rick Anderson had the advantage in ERA (3.75 vs 4.67). By the career numbers, Bert Cole had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.