Darrell May vs. Joe Nelson — Career Comparison

Gen XCaliforniaThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaKansas City RoyalsAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher
Gen XCaliforniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaFlorida MarlinsNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Darrell May built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Nelson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Nelson led in run prevention (ERA+ 138 vs 98), strikeout rate (K%+ 123 vs 96), and home run suppression (HR9+ 95 vs 70). Darrell May held the edge in walk avoidance (BB%+ 112 vs 80). Role difference aside, Joe Nelson holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.

Pitching Stats for Darrell May and Joe Nelson

Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
7
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
6
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
161
2.19
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
157
9.3
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97
1.32
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
26
0.35
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.41
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
43
0.59
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.12
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.68
37.68
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
77.78
77.78
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
60.25
60.25
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.1
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.04
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
0.77
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
379
5.16
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
74
4.38
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.16
5.16
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.38
4.38
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.11
5.11
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.29
4.29
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.16
5.16
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.48
4.48
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.283
0.283
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.235
0.235
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1982
27
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
456
27
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
660.2
9
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
152
9
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
746
10.16
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
136
8.05
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
10.16
10.16
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.05
8.05
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
123
1.68
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
20
1.18
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.68
1.68
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.18
1.18
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.76
0.76
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.13
0.13
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
212
2.89
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
84
4.97
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.15
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
9
0.53
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.89
2.89
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.97
4.97
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
414
5.64
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
154
9.12
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.64
5.64
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9.12
9.12
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.57
2.57
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.98
0.98
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.948
0.948
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.566
1.566
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.15
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
0.41
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.08
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.41
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.06
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2896
39.45
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
683
40.44
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
23
0.31
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
58
3.43
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
411
5.6
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
83
4.91
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.6
5.6
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.91
4.91
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
0.18
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.47
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
29
0.4
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.24
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
46
0.63
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.65
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.45
1.45
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.447
1.447
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2636
35.91
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
580
34.34
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.55
2.55
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.53
0.53
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.297
0.297
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.286
0.286
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
39.45
39.45
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40.44
40.44

Fielding Stats for Darrell May and Joe Nelson

Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
7
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
6
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
161
2.19
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
157
9.3
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97
1.32
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1982
27
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
456
27
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
660.2
9
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
152
9
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
35
0.48
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.36
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
60
0.82
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
0.83
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.07
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.06
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
1.36
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
21
1.24
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
95
1.29
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
20
1.18
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
95
95
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
95.24
95.24
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.59
0.59
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.127
0.127
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
60.25
60.25
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.04
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.06
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Darrell May and Joe Nelson

Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
7
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
6
6
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
161
3331.03
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
157
94200
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
29
600
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
1
600
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
26
537.93
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
600
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.077
0.077
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.259
0.259
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
41.38
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
41.38
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.22
4.49
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
41.38
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
62.07
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.111
0.111
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.077
0.077
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.188
0.188
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.069
0.069
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.125
0.125
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.154
0.154
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
1
20.69
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
600
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
1
20.69
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
600
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PAverified
-0.99
-20.58
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
-0.1
-60
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
20.69
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
13
268.97
Joe Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.23
2.23
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.08
0.08
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
Darrell May
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
41.38
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Darrell May
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA