Kurt Birkins vs. Rich Hill — Career Comparison

Rich Hill built a career as a starting pitcher and Kurt Birkins as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Rich Hill posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.02 and WHIP 1.278 compared to 5.85 and 1.553 for Kurt Birkins. By the career numbers, Rich Hill had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.