John Axford vs. James McDonald — Career Comparison

James McDonald built a career as a starting pitcher and John Axford as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Axford led in home run suppression (HR9+ 93 vs 82), walk avoidance (BB%+ 81 vs 75), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 93 vs 89). James McDonald held the edge in run prevention (ERA+ 94 vs 89). Role difference aside, John Axford holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.