Lynn Nelson vs. Francisco Rodriguez — Career Comparison

Lynn Nelson built a career as a starting pitcher and Francisco Rodriguez as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Francisco Rodriguez posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.43 and WHIP 1.525 compared to 5.25 and 1.535 for Lynn Nelson. By the career numbers, Francisco Rodriguez had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.