Steve Avery vs. Ed Linke — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Steve Avery and Ed Linke are fairly close on the surface numbers. Steve Avery posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.19 vs 5.61) and WHIP (1.367 vs 1.695). Ed Linke had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.56 per nine innings vs 0.86). By the career numbers, Steve Avery 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.