Matt Cain vs. Joel Johnston — Career Comparison

Matt Cain
MillenialAlabamaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaSan Francisco GiantsNational LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star
Joel Johnston
Gen XPennsylvaniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Matt Cain built a career as a starting pitcher and Joel Johnston as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Matt Cain posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.68 and WHIP 1.248 compared to 4.31 and 1.296 for Joel Johnston. By the career numbers, Matt Cain had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Matt Cain and Joel Johnston

Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
13
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
342
1.48
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
331
1.43
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
104
0.45
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
118
0.51
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
46.85
46.85
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.5
37.5
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.78
96.78
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
0.06
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.03
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.21
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
853
3.68
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
41
4.31
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.68
3.68
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.31
4.31
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.33
3.33
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.07
3.07
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.8
3.8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.238
0.238
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.212
0.212
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6257
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2085.2
9
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
1849
7.98
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
6.93
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
7.98
7.98
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.93
6.93
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
211
0.91
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
1.05
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.91
0.91
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.05
1.05
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.62
0.62
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.17
0.17
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
712
3.07
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
37
3.89
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
42
0.18
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.07
3.07
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.89
3.89
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1694
7.31
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
61
6.41
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.31
7.31
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.41
6.41
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.95
4.95
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.03
1.03
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.154
1.154
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.144
1.144
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
70
0.3
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
62
0.27
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.02
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8699
37.54
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
356
37.4
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.02
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
1.89
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
910
3.93
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
42
4.41
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.93
3.93
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.41
4.41
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
87
0.38
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
67
0.29
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
124
0.54
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.63
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.228
1.228
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.202
1.202
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7771
33.53
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
311
32.67
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.66
2.66
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.71
0.71
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.279
0.279
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.233
0.233
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.54
37.54
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.4
37.4

Fielding Stats for Matt Cain and Joel Johnston

Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
13
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
342
1.48
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
331
1.43
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6257
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2085.2
9
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
131
0.57
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
229
0.99
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
17
0.07
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.21
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
377
1.63
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
1.58
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
360
1.55
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
1.37
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
95.49
95.49
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
86.67
86.67
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.053
1.053
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.22
0.22
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.78
96.78
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.07
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Matt Cain and Joel Johnston

Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
13
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
5
5
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
349
295.76
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
59
5057.14
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
708
600
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
7
600
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
611
517.8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
6
514.29
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.121
0.121
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.412
0.412
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.857
0.857
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
74
62.71
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
53
44.92
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
13
11.02
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.85
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
5.93
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
21
17.8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.284
0.284
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.012
0.012
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.095
0.095
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
20.82
17.64
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.9
77.5
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
110
93.22
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
257.14
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
96
81.36
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.151
0.151
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.18
0.18
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.331
0.331
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.833
0.833
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.059
0.059
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.167
0.167
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.113
0.113
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.275
0.275
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.245
0.245
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.75
0.75
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0.225
0.225
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
27
22.88
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
34
28.81
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
54
45.76
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2.63
2.23
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.97
82.88
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.85
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21
17.8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
308
261.02
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
2.3
2.3
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.5
3.5
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.07
0.07
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
73
61.86
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Matt Cain
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
1.69
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
1
0.85
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Matt Cain
Career
Per 600 PA
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA