Rick Grapenthin vs. Brandon McCarthy — Career Comparison

Brandon McCarthy built a career as a starting pitcher and Rick Grapenthin as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Brandon McCarthy posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.2 and WHIP 1.317 compared to 6.35 and 1.588 for Rick Grapenthin. By the career numbers, Brandon McCarthy had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.