Kevin Appier vs. John Malarkey — Career Comparison

Kevin Appier built a career as a starting pitcher and John Malarkey as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Malarkey posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.64 and WHIP 1.512 compared to 3.74 and 1.314 for Kevin Appier. By the career numbers, John Malarkey had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.