Bryan Shaw vs. Walter Thornton — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Bryan Shaw and Walter Thornton are fairly close on the surface numbers. Bryan Shaw posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.96 vs 4.18) and WHIP (1.365 vs 1.537). Walter Thornton had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.26 per nine innings vs 0.97). By the career numbers, Bryan Shaw 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.