Sean Doolittle vs. Mike Smith — Career Comparison

Mike Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Sean Doolittle as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Sean Doolittle posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.2 and WHIP 1.045 compared to 7.04 and 1.852 for Mike Smith. By the career numbers, Sean Doolittle had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.