James Atkins vs. Michael Kelly — Career Comparison

James Atkins 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 3.6 and 1.733 for James Atkins. By the career numbers, Michael Kelly had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.