Kelly Downs vs. Billy Palmer — Career Comparison

Kelly Downs built a career as a starting pitcher and Billy Palmer as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Billy Palmer posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.44 and WHIP 1.941 compared to 3.86 and 1.389 for Kelly Downs. By the career numbers, Billy Palmer had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.