Ed Linke vs. Russ Ortiz — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Ed Linke and Russ Ortiz are fairly close on the surface numbers. Russ Ortiz posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.51 vs 5.61) and WHIP (1.514 vs 1.695). Ed Linke had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.56 per nine innings vs 0.97). By the career numbers, Russ Ortiz had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.