Steve Carlton vs. Brad Thompson — Career Comparison

Steve Carlton built a career as a starting pitcher and Brad Thompson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Brad Thompson led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 137 vs 93), home run suppression (HR9+ 117 vs 76), and run prevention (ERA+ 105 vs 95). Steve Carlton held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 109 vs 60). Role difference aside, Brad Thompson holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.