Robbie Ray vs. Lee Smith — Career Comparison

Robbie Ray built a career as a starting pitcher and Lee Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Lee Smith led in home run suppression (HR9+ 131 vs 89), walk avoidance (BB%+ 104 vs 78), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 112 vs 102). Robbie Ray held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 132 vs 128). Role difference aside, Lee Smith holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.