Scott Atchison vs. John Smoltz — Career Comparison

John Smoltz built a career as a starting pitcher and Scott Atchison as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Scott Atchison led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 157 vs 91), home run suppression (HR9+ 159 vs 106), and run prevention (ERA+ 136 vs 106). John Smoltz held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 124 vs 80). Role difference aside, Scott Atchison holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.