Ed Appleton vs. Michael Kelly — Career Comparison

Ed Appleton built a career as a starting pitcher and Michael Kelly as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Michael Kelly posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.04 and WHIP 1.287 compared to 3.25 and 1.435 for Ed Appleton. By the career numbers, Michael Kelly had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.