Phil Hughes vs. Roy Mahaffey — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Phil Hughes and Roy Mahaffey are fairly close on the surface numbers. Phil Hughes posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.52 vs 5.01) and WHIP (1.324 vs 1.546). Roy Mahaffey had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.72 per nine innings vs 1.33). By the career numbers, Phil Hughes had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.