James Atkins vs. Tyler Lyons — Career Comparison

James Atkins built a career as a starting pitcher and Tyler Lyons as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. James Atkins posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.6 and WHIP 1.733 compared to 4.3 and 1.249 for Tyler Lyons. By the career numbers, James Atkins had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.