John Lackey vs. Francisco Rodriguez — Career Comparison

John Lackey built a career as a starting pitcher and Francisco Rodriguez as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Lackey posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.92 and WHIP 1.306 compared to 4.43 and 1.525 for Francisco Rodriguez. By the career numbers, John Lackey had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.