Emmanuel Clase vs Jonathan Papelbon: Career Stats Comparison
Jonathan Papelbon 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). Emmanuel Clase played 2019–2025 as a pitcher; Jonathan Papelbon played 2005–2016 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
Emmanuel Clase (2019–2025) and Jonathan Papelbon (2005–2016) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Emmanuel Clase finished with 21 wins and 349 strikeouts; Jonathan Papelbon finished with 41 wins and 808 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Emmanuel Clase, with 1.88 to Jonathan Papelbon's 2.44.
- Who won more games? Jonathan Papelbon, with 41 to Emmanuel Clase's 21.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jonathan Papelbon, with 808 to Emmanuel Clase's 349.
- Who had the better WHIP? Emmanuel Clase, with 0.94 to Jonathan Papelbon's 1.04.
- Who pitched more innings? Jonathan Papelbon, with 725.2 to Emmanuel Clase's 360.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jonathan Papelbon, with 24,416 career Pitcher PIV to Emmanuel Clase's 15,946.
Emmanuel Clase
Jonathan Papelbon
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 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Emmanuel Clase | Jonathan Papelbon |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 21 | Leads: 41 |
| Losses not scored | 26 | 36 |
| Games | 366 | Leads: 689 |
| Games Started | 1 | Leads: 3 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 182 | Leads: 368 |
| Strikeouts | 349 | Leads: 808 |
| Walks not scored | 70 | 185 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 267 | 572 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 15 | 57 |
| Innings Pitched | 360.0 | Leads: 725.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 1.88 | 2.44 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.94 | 1.04 |
| K/9 | 8.72 | Leads: 10.02 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.75 | 2.29 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jonathan Papelbon outpaces Emmanuel Clase 24,416 to 15,946 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jonathan Papelbon played 13 seasons to Emmanuel Clase's 6, while Emmanuel Clase carries the higher per-season figure (2,658 to 1,878). 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).
Emmanuel Clase
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Jonathan Papelbon
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jonathan Papelbon leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Emmanuel Clase owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jonathan Papelbon. PIV agrees: Jonathan Papelbon grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Emmanuel Clase and Jonathan Papelbon careers compare
Jonathan Papelbon (2005–2016) was finished before Emmanuel Clase (2019–2025) arrived, so they never shared a league. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Emmanuel Clase appeared in 366 games to Jonathan Papelbon's 689. Where Emmanuel Clase comes out ahead, it is in ERA (1.88 to 2.44), WHIP (0.94 to 1.04), and walks per nine (1.75 to 2.29). By rate, Emmanuel Clase struck out 8.72 and walked 1.75 per nine innings; Jonathan Papelbon struck out 10.02 and walked 2.29. Emmanuel Clase worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 366 games, 182 saves), and Jonathan Papelbon worked mostly in relief (3 starts in 689 games, 368 saves).
Emmanuel Clase vs Jonathan Papelbon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Emmanuel Clase or Jonathan Papelbon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jonathan Papelbon leads Emmanuel Clase in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Emmanuel Clase, with 1.88 to Jonathan Papelbon's 2.44.
- Who won more games?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 41 to Emmanuel Clase's 21.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 808 to Emmanuel Clase's 349.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Emmanuel Clase, with 0.94 to Jonathan Papelbon's 1.04.