Branden Kline vs. Russ Ortiz — Career Comparison

Russ Ortiz built a career as a starting pitcher and Branden Kline as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Russ Ortiz posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.51 and WHIP 1.514 compared to 5.48 and 1.478 for Branden Kline. By the career numbers, Russ Ortiz had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.