Kei Igawa vs. Yasuhiko Yabuta — Career Comparison

Kei Igawa built a career as a starting pitcher and Yasuhiko Yabuta as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Kei Igawa posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.66 and WHIP 1.772 compared to 7.14 and 1.819 for Yasuhiko Yabuta. By the career numbers, Kei Igawa had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.