Dellin Betances vs Joe Nathan: Career Stats Comparison
Joe Nathan has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Dellin Betances played 2011–2021 as a pitcher; Joe Nathan played 1999–2016 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
Dellin Betances (2011–2021) and Joe Nathan (1999–2016) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Dellin Betances finished with 21 wins and 633 strikeouts; Joe Nathan finished with 64 wins and 976 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dellin Betances, with 2.53 to Joe Nathan's 2.87.
- Who won more games? Joe Nathan, with 64 to Dellin Betances's 21.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Joe Nathan, with 976 to Dellin Betances's 633.
- Who had the better WHIP? Dellin Betances, with 1.07 to Joe Nathan's 1.12.
- Who pitched more innings? Joe Nathan, with 923.1 to Dellin Betances's 394.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Joe Nathan, with 22,319 career Pitcher PIV to Dellin Betances's 16,859.
Dellin Betances
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 2010s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Dellin Betances | Joe Nathan |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 21 | Leads: 64 |
| Losses not scored | 23 | 34 |
| Games | 374 | Leads: 787 |
| Games Started | 1 | Leads: 29 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 36 | Leads: 377 |
| Strikeouts | 633 | Leads: 976 |
| Walks not scored | 183 | 344 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 240 | 690 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 26 | 84 |
| Innings Pitched | 394.1 | Leads: 923.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.53 | 2.87 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.07 | 1.12 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.45 | 9.51 |
| BB/9 | 4.18 | Leads: 3.35 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Joe Nathan leads Dellin Betances 22,319 to 16,859 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Joe Nathan played 17 seasons to Dellin Betances's 10, while Dellin Betances carries the higher per-season figure (1,686 to 1,313). 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).
Dellin Betances
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Joe Nathan
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Joe Nathan leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Dellin Betances owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Joe Nathan. PIV agrees: Joe Nathan grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dellin Betances and Joe Nathan careers compare
Dellin Betances and Joe Nathan were active at the same time between 2011 and 2016. The table compares 374 games of Dellin Betances with 787 of Joe Nathan across 10 and 17 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Where Dellin Betances comes out ahead, it is in ERA (2.53 to 2.87), WHIP (1.07 to 1.12), and strikeouts per nine (14.45 to 9.51). By rate, Dellin Betances struck out 14.45 and walked 4.18 per nine innings; Joe Nathan struck out 9.51 and walked 3.35. Dellin Betances worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 374 games, 36 saves), and Joe Nathan worked mostly in relief (29 starts in 787 games, 377 saves).
Dellin Betances vs Joe Nathan: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dellin Betances or Joe Nathan?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Joe Nathan leads Dellin Betances in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dellin Betances, with 2.53 to Joe Nathan's 2.87.
- Who won more games?
- Joe Nathan, with 64 to Dellin Betances's 21.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Joe Nathan, with 976 to Dellin Betances's 633.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Dellin Betances, with 1.07 to Joe Nathan's 1.12.