Bert Cole vs. Ismael Valdez — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Bert Cole and Ismael Valdez are fairly close on the surface numbers. Ismael Valdez posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.09 vs 4.67) and WHIP (1.332 vs 1.593). Bert Cole had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.39 per nine innings vs 1.15). By the career numbers, Ismael Valdez 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.