Bert Blyleven vs Roger Clemens: Career Stats Comparison
Roger Clemens 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). Bert Blyleven played 1970–1992 as a pitcher; Roger Clemens played 1984–2007 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
Bert Blyleven (1970–1992) and Roger Clemens (1984–2007) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bert Blyleven finished with 287 wins and 3,701 strikeouts; Roger Clemens finished with 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Roger Clemens, with 3.12 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games? Roger Clemens, with 354 to Bert Blyleven's 287.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Roger Clemens, with 4,672 to Bert Blyleven's 3,701.
- Who had the better WHIP? Roger Clemens, with 1.17 to Bert Blyleven's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Bert Blyleven, with 4,970.0 to Roger Clemens's 4,916.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bert Blyleven, with 60 to Roger Clemens's 46.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Roger Clemens, with 146,187 career Pitcher PIV to Bert Blyleven's 74,910.
Bert Blyleven
Roger Clemens
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 1970s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bert Blyleven | Roger Clemens |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 287 | Leads: 354 |
| Losses not scored | 250 | 184 |
| Games | 692 | Leads: 709 |
| Games Started | 685 | Leads: 707 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 242 | 118 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 60 | 46 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 3,701 | Leads: 4,672 |
| Walks not scored | 1,322 | 1,580 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,632 | 4,185 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 430 | 363 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,970.0 | 4,916.2 |
| ERA | 3.31 | Leads: 3.12 |
| WHIP | 1.20 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | 6.70 | Leads: 8.55 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.39 | 2.89 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Roger Clemens outpaces Bert Blyleven 146,187 to 74,910 — driven by per-season impact — 6,091 PIV per season to 3,121 — rather than by longevity, since Roger Clemens played 24 seasons to Bert Blyleven's 24. 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).
Bert Blyleven — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Roger Clemens — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Roger Clemens leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Bert Blyleven owns innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Roger Clemens. PIV agrees: Roger Clemens grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bert Blyleven and Roger Clemens careers compare
From 1984 through 1992, Bert Blyleven and Roger Clemens were in the majors together. With 692 games against 709 across 24 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Bert Blyleven's edges on the table are complete games (242 to 118), shutouts (60 to 46), and innings (4,970.0 to 4,916.2). By rate, Bert Blyleven struck out 6.70 and walked 2.39 per nine innings; Roger Clemens struck out 8.55 and walked 2.89. Bert Blyleven was mainly a starter (685 starts in 692 games), and Roger Clemens was mainly a starter (707 starts in 709 games). Roger Clemens allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.17 WHIP to Bert Blyleven's 1.20.
Bert Blyleven vs Roger Clemens: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bert Blyleven or Roger Clemens?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Roger Clemens leads Bert Blyleven in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Roger Clemens, with 3.12 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games?
- Roger Clemens, with 354 to Bert Blyleven's 287.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Roger Clemens, with 4,672 to Bert Blyleven's 3,701.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Roger Clemens, with 1.17 to Bert Blyleven's 1.20.