Rich Harden vs. Esmerling Vasquez — Career Comparison

Rich Harden built a career as a starting pitcher and Esmerling Vasquez 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 85), strikeout rate (K%+ 159 vs 103), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 131 vs 90). Role difference aside, Rich Harden holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.