Erik Swanson vs. Jose Valdez — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Erik Swanson and Jose Valdez are fairly close on the surface numbers. Erik Swanson posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.2 vs 5.88) and WHIP (1.154 vs 1.769). Jose Valdez had the advantage in home runs allowed (1.04 per nine innings vs 1.66). By the career numbers, Erik Swanson 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.