Zach Jackson vs. Mike Smith — Career Comparison

Zach Jackson built a career as a starting pitcher and Mike Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Zach Jackson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.81 and WHIP 1.566 compared to 8.22 and 2.000 for Mike Smith. By the career numbers, Zach Jackson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.