David Carpenter vs. AJ Smith-Shawver — Career Comparison

AJ Smith-Shawver built a career as a starting pitcher and David Carpenter as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. David Carpenter posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.69 and WHIP 1.430 compared to 3.77 and 1.297 for AJ Smith-Shawver. By the career numbers, David Carpenter had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.