Paul Assenmacher vs Jesse Orosco: Career Stats Comparison
Jesse Orosco has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Paul Assenmacher played 1986–1999 as a pitcher; Jesse Orosco played 1979–2003 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
Paul Assenmacher (1986–1999) and Jesse Orosco (1979–2003) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Paul Assenmacher finished with 61 wins and 807 strikeouts; Jesse Orosco finished with 87 wins and 1,179 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jesse Orosco, with 3.16 to Paul Assenmacher's 3.53.
- Who won more games? Jesse Orosco, with 87 to Paul Assenmacher's 61.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jesse Orosco, with 1,179 to Paul Assenmacher's 807.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jesse Orosco, with 1.26 to Paul Assenmacher's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Jesse Orosco, with 1,295.1 to Paul Assenmacher's 855.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Paul Assenmacher, with 16,548 career Pitcher PIV to Jesse Orosco's 15,724.
Paul Assenmacher
Jesse Orosco
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 | Paul Assenmacher | Jesse Orosco |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 61 | Leads: 87 |
| Losses not scored | 44 | 80 |
| Games | 884 | Leads: 1,252 |
| Games Started | 1 | Leads: 4 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 56 | Leads: 144 |
| Strikeouts | 807 | Leads: 1,179 |
| Walks not scored | 315 | 581 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 817 | 1,055 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 73 | 113 |
| Innings Pitched | 855.2 | Leads: 1,295.1 |
| ERA | 3.53 | Leads: 3.16 |
| WHIP | 1.32 | Leads: 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.49 | 8.19 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.31 | 4.04 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Assenmacher edges Jesse Orosco 16,548 to 15,724 — driven by per-season impact — 1,034 PIV per season to 605 — rather than by longevity, since Paul Assenmacher played 16 seasons to Jesse Orosco's 26. 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).
Paul Assenmacher
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Jesse Orosco
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jesse Orosco leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Paul Assenmacher owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jesse Orosco. Note that PIV actually grades Paul Assenmacher ahead, which means Jesse Orosco's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Paul Assenmacher and Jesse Orosco careers compare
From 1986 through 1999, Paul Assenmacher and Jesse Orosco were in the majors together. With 884 games against 1,252 across 16 and 26 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Paul Assenmacher are strikeouts per nine (8.49 to 8.19) and walks per nine (3.31 to 4.04). By rate, Paul Assenmacher struck out 8.49 and walked 3.31 per nine innings; Jesse Orosco struck out 8.19 and walked 4.04. Paul Assenmacher worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 884 games, 56 saves), and Jesse Orosco worked mostly in relief (4 starts in 1,252 games, 144 saves). Jesse Orosco allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.26 WHIP to Paul Assenmacher's 1.32.
Paul Assenmacher vs Jesse Orosco: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul Assenmacher or Jesse Orosco?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jesse Orosco leads Paul Assenmacher in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jesse Orosco, with 3.16 to Paul Assenmacher's 3.53.
- Who won more games?
- Jesse Orosco, with 87 to Paul Assenmacher's 61.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jesse Orosco, with 1,179 to Paul Assenmacher's 807.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jesse Orosco, with 1.26 to Paul Assenmacher's 1.32.