Mike Balas vs. Fred Herbert — Career Comparison

Fred Herbert built a career as a starting pitcher and Mike Balas as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Fred Herbert posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 1.06 and WHIP 0.941 compared to 6.75 and 2.250 for Mike Balas. By the career numbers, Fred Herbert had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.