Fernando Valenzuela vs. Colby Ward — Career Comparison

Fernando Valenzuela built a career as a starting pitcher and Colby Ward 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 4.25 and 1.556 for Colby Ward. By the career numbers, Fernando Valenzuela had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.