Ted Lilly vs. Ed Sprague — Career Comparison

Ted Lilly
Gen XCaliforniaThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaChicago CubsNational LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star
Ed Sprague
Silent GenerationMassachusettsThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaOakland AthleticsAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher

Ted Lilly built a career as a starting pitcher and Ed Sprague as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ted Lilly led in strikeout rate (K%+ 120 vs 65), walk avoidance (BB%+ 98 vs 76), and run prevention (ERA+ 97 vs 79). Ed Sprague held the edge in home run suppression (HR9+ 100 vs 73). Role difference aside, Ted Lilly holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.

Pitching Stats for Ted Lilly and Ed Sprague

Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
15
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
8
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
356
1.62
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
198
4.37
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
331
1.5
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
23
0.51
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
130
0.59
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
17
0.38
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
113
0.51
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
23
0.51
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
53.5
53.5
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
42.5
42.5
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
92.98
92.98
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.62
11.62
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.02
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.07
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.01
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.2
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
913
4.14
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
174
3.84
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.14
4.14
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.84
3.84
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.78
3.78
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.29
4.29
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.32
4.32
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.58
4.58
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.242
0.242
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.263
0.263
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5948
27
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
1224
27
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1982.2
9
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
408
9
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1827
8.29
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
406
8.96
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.29
8.29
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.96
8.96
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
293
1.33
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
27
0.6
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.33
1.33
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.6
0.6
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.82
0.82
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.14
0.14
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
661
3
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
206
4.54
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
35
0.16
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
30
0.66
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.54
4.54
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1681
7.63
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
188
4.15
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.63
7.63
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.15
4.15
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.72
4.72
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.95
0.95
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.181
1.181
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.966
0.966
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
58
0.26
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
27
0.6
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
63
0.29
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
17
0.38
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
29
0.13
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.02
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8390
38.09
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1797
39.64
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.02
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
64
1.41
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
974
4.42
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
208
4.59
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.42
4.42
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.59
4.59
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
68
0.31
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
14
0.31
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
47
0.21
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
0.33
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
105
0.48
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
30
0.66
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.255
1.255
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.5
1.5
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7551
34.28
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
1545
34.08
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.74
2.74
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.05
1.05
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.275
0.275
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.285
0.285
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.09
38.09
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.64
39.64

Fielding Stats for Ted Lilly and Ed Sprague

Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
15
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
8
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
356
1.62
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
198
4.36
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
331
1.5
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
23
0.51
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5948
27
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
1225
27
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1982.2
9
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
408.1
9
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
67
0.3
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
36
0.79
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
214
0.97
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
70
1.54
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
17
0.08
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
12
0.26
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
298
1.35
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
118
2.6
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
281
1.28
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
106
2.34
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
94.3
94.3
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
89.83
89.83
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.789
0.789
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.535
0.535
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
92.98
92.98
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.62
11.62
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.02
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.13
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Ted Lilly and Ed Sprague

Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
15
15
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
8
8
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
357
545.04
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PAverified
198
4752
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
393
600
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
25
600
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
347
529.77
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
22
528
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.101
0.101
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0.046
0.046
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.332
0.332
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0.24
0.24
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
35
53.44
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
1
24
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
28
42.75
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
9.16
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
24
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.53
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
7
10.69
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
24
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PA
0.2
0.2
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5.28
8.07
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0.06
1.46
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
43
65.65
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
2
48
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
44
67.18
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
1
24
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.124
0.124
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0.046
0.046
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.124
0.124
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.248
0.248
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0.136
0.136
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PA
0.023
0.023
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.045
0.045
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.087
0.087
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0.043
0.043
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.174
0.174
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.177
0.177
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0.111
0.111
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
10
15.27
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
24
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
17
25.95
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
27
41.22
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
1
24
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PAverified
-8.04
-12.27
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
-1.79
-43.07
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.53
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
12.21
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PAverified
149
227.48
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
13
312
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.64
2.64
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
1.92
1.92
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.05
0.05
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
37
56.49
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
72
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.05
Ed Sprague
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1
24
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
4.58
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.05
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
7.63
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ted Lilly
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
60
60
Ed Sprague
Career
Per 600 PA