Tommy John vs. Lance McCullers — Career Comparison

Tommy John
Silent GenerationIndianaThrows LeftBats RightNorth AmericaChicago White SoxAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star
Lance McCullers
Baby BoomersFloridaThrows RightBats SwitchNorth AmericaSan Diego PadresNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Tommy John built a career as a starting pitcher and Lance McCullers as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Tommy John led in home run suppression (HR9+ 126 vs 89), walk avoidance (BB%+ 118 vs 85), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 101 vs 98). Lance McCullers held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 118 vs 69). Keeping the role difference in mind, the edge still goes to Tommy John.

Pitching Stats for Tommy John and Lance McCullers

Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
26
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
7
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
760
1.45
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
306
5.23
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
700
1.34
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.15
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
288
0.55
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
28
0.48
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
231
0.44
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
31
0.53
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
55.49
55.49
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
47.46
47.46
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
92.11
92.11
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.94
2.94
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
162
0.31
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
46
0.09
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.01
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39
0.67
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
1749
3.34
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
190
3.25
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.34
3.34
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.25
3.25
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.48
3.48
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.23
3.23
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.74
3.74
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.97
3.97
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.264
0.264
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.223
0.223
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
14131
27
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1579
27
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4710.1
9
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
526.1
9
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
4783
9.14
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
427
7.3
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.14
9.14
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.3
7.3
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
302
0.58
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
47
0.8
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.58
0.58
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.8
0.8
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.4
0.4
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.15
0.15
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1259
2.41
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
252
4.31
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
102
0.19
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
42
0.72
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.41
2.41
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.31
4.31
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2245
4.29
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
442
7.56
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.29
4.29
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.56
7.56
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.95
2.95
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.44
1.44
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.744
0.744
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.319
1.319
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
187
0.36
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
21
0.36
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
98
0.19
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.17
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.03
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
0.12
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
19692
37.63
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2221
37.98
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
22
0.04
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
155
2.65
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
2017
3.85
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
219
3.74
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.85
3.85
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.74
3.74
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
156
0.3
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
31
0.53
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
78
0.15
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
16
0.27
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
383
0.73
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
26
0.44
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.283
1.283
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.29
1.29
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18101
34.59
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1912
32.69
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.65
2.65
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.72
0.72
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.288
0.288
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.267
0.267
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.63
37.63
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.98
37.98

Fielding Stats for Tommy John and Lance McCullers

Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
26
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
7
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
760
1.45
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
306
5.23
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
700
1.34
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.15
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
14129
27
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1579
27
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4709.2
9
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
526.1
9
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
237
0.45
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
33
0.56
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1028
1.96
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
67
1.15
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
49
0.09
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
0.17
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1314
2.51
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
110
1.88
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1265
2.42
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
1.71
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.27
96.27
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
90.91
90.91
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.665
1.665
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.327
0.327
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
92.11
92.11
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.94
2.94
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
69
0.13
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.07
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tommy John
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Tommy John and Lance McCullers

Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
26
26
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
7
7
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
761
443.3
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
312
3172.88
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1030
600
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
59
600
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
900
524.27
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
48
488.14
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.157
0.157
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.104
0.104
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0.444
0.444
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.447
0.447
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
141
82.14
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
5
50.85
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
123
71.65
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
3
30.51
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
13
7.57
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
20.34
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
2.91
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
18
10.49
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
20.34
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0.128
0.128
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.4
0.4
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.006
0.006
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.036
0.036
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
30.05
17.51
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1.73
17.63
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
169
98.45
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
7
71.19
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
175
101.94
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
10
101.69
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0.187
0.187
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.189
0.189
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.188
0.188
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.146
0.146
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.375
0.375
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.335
0.335
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0.031
0.031
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.042
0.042
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.131
0.131
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.121
0.121
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0.261
0.261
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.302
0.302
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0.198
0.198
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
43
25.05
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
5
50.85
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
54
31.46
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
4
40.68
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
92
53.59
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
9
91.53
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
17.54
10.22
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.6
6.14
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.58
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
33
19.22
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
5
50.85
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PAverified
211
122.91
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
23
233.9
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.88
4.88
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
2.57
2.57
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0.16
0.16
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.22
0.22
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
93
54.17
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
6
61.02
Tommy John
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
1.75
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
20
11.65
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
10.17
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
10.17
Tommy John
Career
Per 600 PA
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100