John Smoltz vs. Ed Sprague — Career Comparison

John Smoltz built a career as a starting pitcher and Ed Sprague as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Smoltz led in strikeout rate (K%+ 124 vs 65), run prevention (ERA+ 106 vs 79), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 107 vs 81). Role difference aside, John Smoltz holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.