Mike Burns vs. Philip Humber — Career Comparison

Philip Humber built a career as a starting pitcher and Mike Burns as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Philip Humber posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.31 and WHIP 1.442 compared to 5.82 and 1.572 for Mike Burns. By the career numbers, Philip Humber had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.