Darin Downs vs. Jeff Samardzija — Career Comparison

Jeff Samardzija built a career as a starting pitcher and Darin Downs as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jeff Samardzija posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.15 and WHIP 1.259 compared to 4.76 and 1.401 for Darin Downs. By the career numbers, Jeff Samardzija had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.