John Lackey vs. Nelson Thomas — Career Comparison

John Lackey built a career as a starting pitcher and Nelson Thomas as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Nelson Thomas posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 1.59 and WHIP 1.059 compared to 3.92 and 1.306 for John Lackey. By the career numbers, Nelson Thomas had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.