Kelly Downs vs. Merle Settlemire — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Kelly Downs and Merle Settlemire are fairly close on the surface numbers. Kelly Downs posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.86 vs 5.47) and WHIP (1.389 vs 1.822). Merle Settlemire had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.22 per nine innings vs 0.68). By the career numbers, Kelly Downs 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.