Marty Bystrom vs. Mel Nelson — Career Comparison

Marty Bystrom built a career as a starting pitcher and Mel Nelson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Marty Bystrom posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.26 and WHIP 1.428 compared to 4.4 and 1.526 for Mel Nelson. By the career numbers, Marty Bystrom had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.