Rick Aguilera vs Duane Ward: 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; Duane Ward played 1986–1995 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 Duane Ward (1986–1995) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Rick Aguilera finished with 86 wins and 1,030 strikeouts; Duane Ward finished with 32 wins and 679 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Duane Ward, with 3.28 to Rick Aguilera's 3.57.
- Who won more games? Rick Aguilera, with 86 to Duane Ward's 32.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rick Aguilera, with 1,030 to Duane Ward's 679.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rick Aguilera, with 1.23 to Duane Ward's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Rick Aguilera, with 1,291.1 to Duane Ward's 666.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Duane Ward, with 18,942 career Pitcher PIV to Rick Aguilera's 17,939.
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 | Duane Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 86 | 32 |
| Losses not scored | 81 | 37 |
| Games | Leads: 732 | 462 |
| Games Started | Leads: 89 | 2 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 10 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 318 | 121 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,030 | 679 |
| Walks not scored | 351 | 286 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,233 | 551 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 138 | 32 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,291.1 | 666.2 |
| ERA | 3.57 | Leads: 3.28 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | 7.18 | Leads: 9.17 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.45 | 3.86 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Duane Ward edges Rick Aguilera 18,942 to 17,939 — driven by per-season impact — 1,894 PIV per season to 944 — rather than by longevity, since Duane Ward played 10 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)
Duane Ward — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rick Aguilera leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Duane Ward owns ERA and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rick Aguilera. Note that PIV actually grades Duane Ward ahead, which means Rick Aguilera's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rick Aguilera and Duane Ward careers compare
From 1986 through 1995, Rick Aguilera and Duane Ward were in the majors together. Rick Aguilera has the far longer record, 732 games against 462 across 19 and 10 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Duane Ward's edges on the table are ERA (3.28 to 3.57) and strikeouts per nine (9.17 to 7.18). By rate, Rick Aguilera struck out 7.18 and walked 2.45 per nine innings; Duane Ward struck out 9.17 and walked 3.86. Both had the same role: Rick Aguilera worked mostly in relief (89 starts in 732 games, 318 saves); Duane Ward worked mostly in relief (2 starts in 462 games, 121 saves).
Rick Aguilera vs Duane Ward: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rick Aguilera or Duane Ward?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rick Aguilera leads Duane Ward in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Duane Ward, with 3.28 to Rick Aguilera's 3.57.
- Who won more games?
- Rick Aguilera, with 86 to Duane Ward's 32.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rick Aguilera, with 1,030 to Duane Ward's 679.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rick Aguilera, with 1.23 to Duane Ward's 1.26.