Frank Bates vs. Mark Petkovsek — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Frank Bates and Mark Petkovsek are fairly close on the surface numbers. Mark Petkovsek posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.74 vs 6.33) and WHIP (1.472 vs 2.082). Frank Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.28 per nine innings vs 1.04). By the career numbers, Mark Petkovsek 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.