Doug Bird vs. John Smoltz — Career Comparison

John Smoltz built a career as a starting pitcher and Doug Bird as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Smoltz led in strikeout rate (K%+ 124 vs 79), home run suppression (HR9+ 106 vs 65), and run prevention (ERA+ 106 vs 75). Doug Bird held the edge in walk avoidance (BB%+ 168 vs 91). Role difference aside, John Smoltz holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.