Kurt Birkins vs. Todd Van Poppel — Career Comparison

Todd Van Poppel 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. Todd Van Poppel posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.58 and WHIP 1.572 compared to 5.85 and 1.553 for Kurt Birkins. By the career numbers, Todd Van Poppel had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.