Troy Cate vs. AJ Smith-Shawver — Career Comparison

AJ Smith-Shawver built a career as a starting pitcher and Troy Cate as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Troy Cate posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.38 and WHIP 1.688 compared to 3.77 and 1.297 for AJ Smith-Shawver. By the career numbers, Troy Cate had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.