Willie Hernandez vs. Ben McDonald — Career Comparison

Ben McDonald built a career as a starting pitcher and Willie Hernandez as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ben McDonald led in home run suppression (HR9+ 105 vs 76), walk avoidance (BB%+ 113 vs 88), and run prevention (ERA+ 119 vs 100). Willie Hernandez held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 109 vs 105). Role difference aside, Ben McDonald holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.