Steve Avery vs. Bill Wakefield — Career Comparison

Steve Avery built a career as a starting pitcher and Bill Wakefield as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bill Wakefield posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.61 and WHIP 1.421 compared to 4.19 and 1.367 for Steve Avery. By the career numbers, Bill Wakefield had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.