Elmer Jacobs vs. John Smoltz — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Elmer Jacobs and John Smoltz are fairly close on the surface numbers. John Smoltz posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.33 vs 3.55) and WHIP (1.200 vs 1.384). Elmer Jacobs had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.3 per nine innings vs 0.75). By the career numbers, John Smoltz 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.