Kurt Birkins vs. John Smoltz — Career Comparison

John Smoltz 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. John Smoltz posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.33 and WHIP 1.200 compared to 5.85 and 1.553 for Kurt Birkins. By the career numbers, John Smoltz had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.