Rick Aguilera vs Dave Smith: Career Stats Comparison
Rick Aguilera has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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 Smith played 1980–1992 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 Smith (1980–1992) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Rick Aguilera finished with 86 wins and 1,030 strikeouts; Dave Smith finished with 53 wins and 548 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dave Smith, with 2.67 to Rick Aguilera's 3.57.
- Who won more games? Rick Aguilera, with 86 to Dave Smith's 53.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rick Aguilera, with 1,030 to Dave Smith's 548.
- Who had the better WHIP? Dave Smith, with 1.21 to Rick Aguilera's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Rick Aguilera, with 1,291.1 to Dave Smith's 809.1.
- 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 Dave Smith's 16,707.
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 | Dave Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 86 | 53 |
| Losses not scored | 81 | 53 |
| Games | Leads: 732 | 609 |
| Games Started | Leads: 89 | 1 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 10 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 318 | 216 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,030 | 548 |
| Walks not scored | 351 | 283 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,233 | 700 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 138 | 34 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,291.1 | 809.1 |
| ERA | 3.57 | Leads: 2.67 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.21 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.18 | 6.09 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.45 | 3.15 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rick Aguilera edges Dave Smith 17,939 to 16,707 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rick Aguilera played 19 seasons to Dave Smith's 13, while Dave Smith carries the higher per-season figure (1,285 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)
Dave Smith
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, K/9, and innings pitched, while Dave Smith owns ERA and WHIP. 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 Dave Smith careers compare
Rick Aguilera and Dave Smith were active at the same time between 1985 and 1992. With 732 games against 609 across 19 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Dave Smith comes out ahead, it is in ERA (2.67 to 3.57) and WHIP (1.21 to 1.23). By rate, Rick Aguilera struck out 7.18 and walked 2.45 per nine innings; Dave Smith struck out 6.09 and walked 3.15. Rick Aguilera worked mostly in relief (89 starts in 732 games, 318 saves), and Dave Smith worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 609 games, 216 saves). Dave Smith allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.21 WHIP to Rick Aguilera's 1.23.
Rick Aguilera vs Dave Smith: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rick Aguilera or Dave Smith?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rick Aguilera leads Dave Smith in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dave Smith, with 2.67 to Rick Aguilera's 3.57.
- Who won more games?
- Rick Aguilera, with 86 to Dave Smith's 53.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rick Aguilera, with 1,030 to Dave Smith's 548.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Dave Smith, with 1.21 to Rick Aguilera's 1.23.