Rick Austin vs. Kevin Shackelford — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Rick Austin and Kevin Shackelford are fairly close on the surface numbers. Rick Austin posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.63 vs 5.35) and home runs allowed (1.13 per nine innings vs 1.4). Kevin Shackelford had the advantage in WHIP (1.578 vs 1.721). By the career numbers, Rick Austin had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.