Jonathan Broxton vs Mark Melancon: Career Stats Comparison
Mark Melancon has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jonathan Broxton played 2005–2017 as a pitcher; Mark Melancon played 2009–2022 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
Jonathan Broxton (2005–2017) and Mark Melancon (2009–2022) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Jonathan Broxton finished with 43 wins and 758 strikeouts; Mark Melancon finished with 37 wins and 643 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Mark Melancon, with 2.94 to Jonathan Broxton's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Jonathan Broxton, with 43 to Mark Melancon's 37.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jonathan Broxton, with 758 to Mark Melancon's 643.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mark Melancon, with 1.17 to Jonathan Broxton's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Mark Melancon, with 726.2 to Jonathan Broxton's 676.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mark Melancon, with 19,354 career Pitcher PIV to Jonathan Broxton's 17,970.
Jonathan Broxton
Mark Melancon
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 | Jonathan Broxton | Mark Melancon |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 43 | 37 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 40 |
| Games | 694 | Leads: 732 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 118 | Leads: 262 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 758 | 643 |
| Walks not scored | 268 | 192 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 580 | 657 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 51 | 44 |
| Innings Pitched | 676.0 | Leads: 726.2 |
| ERA | 3.41 | Leads: 2.94 |
| WHIP | 1.25 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.09 | 7.96 |
| BB/9 | 3.57 | Leads: 2.38 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mark Melancon edges Jonathan Broxton 19,354 to 17,970 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,138 PIV per season to 1,123, across 17 seasons to 16. 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).
Jonathan Broxton
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Mark Melancon
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mark Melancon leads in ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Jonathan Broxton owns wins, strikeouts, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mark Melancon. PIV agrees: Mark Melancon grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jonathan Broxton and Mark Melancon careers compare
From 2009 through 2017, Jonathan Broxton and Mark Melancon were in the majors together. With 694 games against 732 across 16 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Jonathan Broxton are wins (43 to 37), strikeouts (758 to 643), and strikeouts per nine (10.09 to 7.96). By rate, Jonathan Broxton struck out 10.09 and walked 3.57 per nine innings; Mark Melancon struck out 7.96 and walked 2.38. Both had the same role: Jonathan Broxton worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 694 games, 118 saves); Mark Melancon worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 732 games, 262 saves).
Jonathan Broxton vs Mark Melancon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jonathan Broxton or Mark Melancon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mark Melancon leads Jonathan Broxton in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mark Melancon, with 2.94 to Jonathan Broxton's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Jonathan Broxton, with 43 to Mark Melancon's 37.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jonathan Broxton, with 758 to Mark Melancon's 643.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mark Melancon, with 1.17 to Jonathan Broxton's 1.25.