Ken Giles vs. Lefty Smart — Career Comparison

Lefty Smart built a career as a starting pitcher and Ken Giles as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ken Giles posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.71 and WHIP 1.131 compared to 2.78 and 1.191 for Lefty Smart. By the career numbers, Ken Giles had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.