Rex Smith vs. Matt Thornton — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Rex Smith and Matt Thornton are fairly close on the surface numbers. Matt Thornton posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.41 vs 5.5) and WHIP (1.331 vs 2.111). Rex Smith had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 0.71). By the career numbers, Matt Thornton 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.