Rex Smith vs. Jake Westbrook — Career Comparison

Jake Westbrook built a career as a starting pitcher and Rex Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jake Westbrook posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.32 and WHIP 1.426 compared to 5.5 and 2.111 for Rex Smith. By the career numbers, Jake Westbrook had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.