Steve Bedrosian vs Bruce Sutter: Career Stats Comparison
Steve Bedrosian and Bruce Sutter are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 5–5 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Steve Bedrosian played 1981–1995 as a pitcher; Bruce Sutter played 1976–1988 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
Steve Bedrosian (1981–1995) and Bruce Sutter (1976–1988) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Steve Bedrosian finished with 76 wins and 921 strikeouts; Bruce Sutter finished with 68 wins and 861 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bruce Sutter, with 2.83 to Steve Bedrosian's 3.38.
- Who won more games? Steve Bedrosian, with 76 to Bruce Sutter's 68.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Bedrosian, with 921 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bruce Sutter, with 1.14 to Steve Bedrosian's 1.30.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Bedrosian, with 1,191.0 to Bruce Sutter's 1,042.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bruce Sutter, with 23,292 career Pitcher PIV to Steve Bedrosian's 2,495.
Steve Bedrosian
Bruce Sutter
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 | Steve Bedrosian | Bruce Sutter |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 76 | 68 |
| Losses not scored | 79 | 71 |
| Games | Leads: 732 | 661 |
| Games Started | Leads: 46 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 184 | Leads: 300 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 921 | 861 |
| Walks not scored | 518 | 309 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,026 | 879 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 114 | 77 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,191.0 | 1,042.0 |
| ERA | 3.38 | Leads: 2.83 |
| WHIP | 1.30 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | 6.96 | Leads: 7.44 |
| BB/9 | 3.91 | Leads: 2.67 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bruce Sutter outpaces Steve Bedrosian 23,292 to 2,495 — driven by per-season impact — 1,941 PIV per season to 166 — rather than by longevity, since Bruce Sutter played 12 seasons to Steve Bedrosian's 15. 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).
Steve Bedrosian — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bruce Sutter — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bruce Sutter leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Steve Bedrosian owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bruce Sutter. PIV agrees: Bruce Sutter grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Steve Bedrosian and Bruce Sutter careers compare
From 1981 through 1988, Steve Bedrosian and Bruce Sutter were in the majors together. With 732 games against 661 across 15 and 12 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 6.96 strikeouts and 3.91 walks for Steve Bedrosian, 7.44 and 2.67 for Bruce Sutter. Both had the same role: Steve Bedrosian worked mostly in relief (46 starts in 732 games, 184 saves); Bruce Sutter worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 661 games, 300 saves). In WHIP, Bruce Sutter's 1.14 beats Steve Bedrosian's 1.30.
Steve Bedrosian vs Bruce Sutter: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bruce Sutter, with 2.83 to Steve Bedrosian's 3.38.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Bedrosian, with 76 to Bruce Sutter's 68.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Bedrosian, with 921 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bruce Sutter, with 1.14 to Steve Bedrosian's 1.30.