Jim Bethke vs. Alek Jacob — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Jim Bethke and Alek Jacob are fairly close on the surface numbers. Alek Jacob posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.06 vs 4.28) and WHIP (1.216 vs 1.625). Jim Bethke had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.68 per nine innings vs 1.24). By the career numbers, Alek Jacob 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.