Zach Jackson vs. Jake Smith — Career Comparison

Zach Jackson built a career as a starting pitcher and Jake Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jake Smith posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.5 and WHIP 1.500 compared to 5.81 and 1.566 for Zach Jackson. By the career numbers, Jake Smith had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.