Steve Carlton vs. Ryan Thompson — Career Comparison

Steve Carlton built a career as a starting pitcher and Ryan Thompson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ryan Thompson led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 146 vs 93), home run suppression (HR9+ 127 vs 76), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 113 vs 91). Steve Carlton held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 109 vs 87). Role difference aside, Ryan Thompson holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.