Rick Aguilera vs Dave Righetti: Career Stats Comparison
Rick Aguilera has the better career line of the two, leading 6 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; Dave Righetti played 1979–1995 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 Dave Righetti (1979–1995) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Rick Aguilera finished with 86 wins and 1,030 strikeouts; Dave Righetti finished with 82 wins and 1,112 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dave Righetti, with 3.46 to Rick Aguilera's 3.57.
- Who won more games? Rick Aguilera, with 86 to Dave Righetti's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Dave Righetti, with 1,112 to Rick Aguilera's 1,030.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rick Aguilera, with 1.23 to Dave Righetti's 1.34.
- Who pitched more innings? Dave Righetti, with 1,403.2 to Rick Aguilera's 1,291.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Dave Righetti, with 2 to Rick Aguilera's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Dave Righetti, with 20,202 career Pitcher PIV to Rick Aguilera's 17,939.
Rick Aguilera
Dave Righetti
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, and the 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rick Aguilera | Dave Righetti |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 86 | 82 |
| Losses not scored | 81 | 79 |
| Games | Leads: 732 | 718 |
| Games Started | 89 | 89 |
| Complete Games | 10 | Leads: 13 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 2 |
| Saves | Leads: 318 | 252 |
| Strikeouts | 1,030 | Leads: 1,112 |
| Walks not scored | 351 | 591 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,233 | 1,287 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 138 | 95 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,291.1 | Leads: 1,403.2 |
| ERA | 3.57 | Leads: 3.46 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.34 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.18 | 7.13 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.45 | 3.79 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dave Righetti leads Rick Aguilera 20,202 to 17,939 — driven by per-season impact — 1,188 PIV per season to 944 — rather than by longevity, since Dave Righetti played 17 seasons to Rick Aguilera's 19. 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)
Dave Righetti — top 2 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dave Righetti leads in strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Rick Aguilera owns wins, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dave Righetti. PIV agrees: Dave Righetti 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 Dave Righetti careers compare
From 1985 through 1995, Rick Aguilera and Dave Righetti were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 732 games for Rick Aguilera and 718 for Dave Righetti across 19 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. By rate, Rick Aguilera struck out 7.18 and walked 2.45 per nine innings; Dave Righetti struck out 7.13 and walked 3.79. Rick Aguilera worked mostly in relief (89 starts in 732 games, 318 saves), and Dave Righetti worked mostly in relief (89 starts in 718 games, 252 saves). Rick Aguilera allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.23 WHIP to Dave Righetti's 1.34.
Rick Aguilera vs Dave Righetti: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rick Aguilera or Dave Righetti?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rick Aguilera leads Dave Righetti in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dave Righetti, with 3.46 to Rick Aguilera's 3.57.
- Who won more games?
- Rick Aguilera, with 86 to Dave Righetti's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Dave Righetti, with 1,112 to Rick Aguilera's 1,030.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rick Aguilera, with 1.23 to Dave Righetti's 1.34.