Rich Harden vs. B. J. Ryan — Career Comparison

Rich Harden built a career as a starting pitcher and B. J. Ryan as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Rich Harden led in run prevention (ERA+ 154 vs 108), strikeout rate (K%+ 159 vs 134), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 131 vs 114). B. J. Ryan held the edge in home run suppression (HR9+ 200 vs 151). Role difference aside, Rich Harden holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.