Hayden Birdsong vs. Mike Cunningham — Career Comparison

Hayden Birdsong built a career as a starting pitcher and Mike Cunningham as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mike Cunningham posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.21 and WHIP 1.357 compared to 4.77 and 1.438 for Hayden Birdsong. By the career numbers, Mike Cunningham had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.