Chris Carpenter vs. Bob Smith — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Chris Carpenter and Bob Smith are fairly close on the surface numbers. Chris Carpenter posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.76 vs 3.94) and WHIP (1.286 vs 1.399). Bob Smith had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.53 per nine innings vs 0.89). By the career numbers, Chris Carpenter had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.