John Axford vs. Steve Renko — Career Comparison

Steve Renko 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 76), strikeout rate (K%+ 110 vs 96), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 93 vs 85). Steve Renko held the edge in run prevention (ERA+ 98 vs 89). Role difference aside, John Axford holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.