Doug Fister vs. James Russell — Career Comparison

Doug Fister built a career as a starting pitcher and James Russell as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Doug Fister led in home run suppression (HR9+ 112 vs 95), skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 103 vs 90), and run prevention (ERA+ 114 vs 102). James Russell held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 81 vs 81). Role difference aside, Doug Fister holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.