Heath Bell vs Fernando Rodney: Career Stats Comparison
Fernando Rodney has the better career line of the two, leading 5 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Heath Bell played 2004–2014 as a pitcher; Fernando Rodney played 2002–2019 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
Heath Bell (2004–2014) and Fernando Rodney (2002–2019) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Heath Bell finished with 38 wins and 637 strikeouts; Fernando Rodney finished with 48 wins and 943 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Heath Bell, with 3.49 to Fernando Rodney's 3.80.
- Who won more games? Fernando Rodney, with 48 to Heath Bell's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fernando Rodney, with 943 to Heath Bell's 637.
- Who had the better WHIP? Heath Bell, with 1.27 to Fernando Rodney's 1.37.
- Who pitched more innings? Fernando Rodney, with 933.0 to Heath Bell's 628.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Heath Bell, with 16,481 career Pitcher PIV to Fernando Rodney's 9,760.
Fernando Rodney
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 | Heath Bell | Fernando Rodney |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 48 |
| Losses not scored | 32 | 71 |
| Games | 590 | Leads: 951 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 168 | Leads: 327 |
| Strikeouts | 637 | Leads: 943 |
| Walks not scored | 214 | 464 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 584 | 817 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 48 | 73 |
| Innings Pitched | 628.2 | Leads: 933.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.49 | 3.80 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.27 | 1.37 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.12 | 9.10 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.06 | 4.48 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Heath Bell outpaces Fernando Rodney 16,481 to 9,760 — driven by per-season impact — 1,498 PIV per season to 465 — rather than by longevity, since Heath Bell played 11 seasons to Fernando Rodney's 21. 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).
Heath Bell
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Fernando Rodney
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Heath Bell leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Fernando Rodney owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Heath Bell. PIV agrees: Heath Bell grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Heath Bell and Fernando Rodney careers compare
Heath Bell and Fernando Rodney were active at the same time between 2004 and 2014. The table compares 590 games of Heath Bell with 951 of Fernando Rodney across 11 and 21 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Where Heath Bell comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.49 to 3.80), WHIP (1.27 to 1.37), and strikeouts per nine (9.12 to 9.10). By rate, Heath Bell struck out 9.12 and walked 3.06 per nine innings; Fernando Rodney struck out 9.10 and walked 4.48.
Heath Bell vs Fernando Rodney: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Heath Bell or Fernando Rodney?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fernando Rodney leads Heath Bell in 5 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Heath Bell, with 3.49 to Fernando Rodney's 3.80.
- Who won more games?
- Fernando Rodney, with 48 to Heath Bell's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fernando Rodney, with 943 to Heath Bell's 637.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Heath Bell, with 1.27 to Fernando Rodney's 1.37.