Stover McIlwain vs. Jim Merritt — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Stover McIlwain and Jim Merritt are fairly close on the surface numbers. Jim Merritt posted stronger numbers in WHIP (1.237 vs 1.400) and home runs allowed (0.97 per nine innings vs 1.8). Stover McIlwain had the advantage in ERA (1.8 vs 3.65). By the career numbers, Jim Merritt 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.