Steve Avery vs. Merle Settlemire — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Steve Avery and Merle Settlemire are fairly close on the surface numbers. Steve Avery posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.19 vs 5.47) and WHIP (1.367 vs 1.822). Merle Settlemire had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.22 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.