Frank Viola vs. Duane Ward — Career Comparison

Frank Viola built a career as a starting pitcher and Duane Ward as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Duane Ward led in home run suppression (HR9+ 179 vs 73), skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 145 vs 95), and run prevention (ERA+ 144 vs 94). Frank Viola held the edge in walk avoidance (BB%+ 113 vs 97). Role difference aside, Duane Ward holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.