Bill Essick vs. Thornton Lee — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Bill Essick and Thornton Lee are fairly close on the surface numbers. Bill Essick posted stronger numbers in ERA (2.95 vs 3.56) and home runs allowed (0.15 per nine innings vs 0.47). Thornton Lee had the advantage in WHIP (1.358 vs 1.410). By the career numbers, Bill Essick 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.