Rick Aguilera vs Jay Howell: Career Stats Comparison
Rick Aguilera has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Rick Aguilera played 1985–2000 as a pitcher; Jay Howell played 1980–1994 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Rick Aguilera (1985–2000) and Jay Howell (1980–1994) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Rick Aguilera finished with 86 wins and 1,030 strikeouts; Jay Howell finished with 58 wins and 666 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jay Howell, with 3.34 to Rick Aguilera's 3.57.
- Who won more games? Rick Aguilera, with 86 to Jay Howell's 58.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rick Aguilera, with 1,030 to Jay Howell's 666.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rick Aguilera, with 1.23 to Jay Howell's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Rick Aguilera, with 1,291.1 to Jay Howell's 844.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rick Aguilera, with 17,939 career Pitcher PIV to Jay Howell's 15,213.
Rick Aguilera
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rick Aguilera | Jay Howell |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 86 | 58 |
| Losses not scored | 81 | 53 |
| Games | Leads: 732 | 568 |
| Games Started | Leads: 89 | 21 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 10 | 2 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 318 | 155 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,030 | 666 |
| Walks not scored | 351 | 291 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,233 | 782 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 138 | 57 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,291.1 | 844.2 |
| ERA | 3.57 | Leads: 3.34 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.18 | 7.10 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.45 | 3.10 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rick Aguilera leads Jay Howell 17,939 to 15,213 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rick Aguilera played 19 seasons to Jay Howell's 15, while Jay Howell carries the higher per-season figure (1,014 to 944). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Rick Aguilera — top 2 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jay Howell
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rick Aguilera leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Jay Howell owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rick Aguilera. PIV agrees: Rick Aguilera grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rick Aguilera and Jay Howell careers compare
From 1985 through 1994, Rick Aguilera and Jay Howell were in the majors together. With 732 games against 568 across 19 and 15 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Jay Howell comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.34 to 3.57). By rate, Rick Aguilera struck out 7.18 and walked 2.45 per nine innings; Jay Howell struck out 7.10 and walked 3.10. Rick Aguilera worked mostly in relief (89 starts in 732 games, 318 saves), and Jay Howell worked mostly in relief (21 starts in 568 games, 155 saves). Rick Aguilera allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.23 WHIP to Jay Howell's 1.27.
Rick Aguilera vs Jay Howell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rick Aguilera or Jay Howell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rick Aguilera leads Jay Howell in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jay Howell, with 3.34 to Rick Aguilera's 3.57.
- Who won more games?
- Rick Aguilera, with 86 to Jay Howell's 58.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rick Aguilera, with 1,030 to Jay Howell's 666.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rick Aguilera, with 1.23 to Jay Howell's 1.27.