Brian Smith vs. Fernando Valenzuela — Career Comparison

Fernando Valenzuela built a career as a starting pitcher and Brian Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Fernando Valenzuela posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.54 and WHIP 1.343 compared to 10.38 and 1.846 for Brian Smith. By the career numbers, Fernando Valenzuela had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.