Xavier Hernandez vs. James Shields — Career Comparison

James Shields built a career as a starting pitcher and Xavier Hernandez as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Xavier Hernandez led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 101 vs 92), skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 90 vs 84), and home run suppression (HR9+ 73 vs 70). James Shields held the edge in run prevention (ERA+ 88 vs 85). Role difference aside, Xavier Hernandez holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.