Brandon Backe vs. Chris Gardner — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Brandon Backe and Chris Gardner are fairly close on the surface numbers. Chris Gardner posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.01 vs 5.23) and WHIP (1.378 vs 1.563). Brandon Backe had the advantage in home runs allowed (1.49 per nine innings vs 1.82). By the career numbers, Chris Gardner 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.