Edwin Diaz vs Tom Gordon: Career Stats Comparison
Tom Gordon 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). Edwin Diaz has played 2016–present as a pitcher; Tom Gordon played 1988–2009 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
Edwin Diaz (2016–present) and Tom Gordon (1988–2009) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Edwin Diaz has 30 wins and 867 strikeouts through October 6, 2026; Tom Gordon finished with 138 wins and 1,928 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Edwin Diaz, with 3.03 to Tom Gordon's 3.96.
- Who won more games? Tom Gordon, with 138 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tom Gordon, with 1,928 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP? Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Tom Gordon's 1.36.
- Who pitched more innings? Tom Gordon, with 2,108.0 to Edwin Diaz's 538.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tom Gordon, with 4 to Edwin Diaz's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Tom Gordon, with 29,014 career Pitcher PIV to Edwin Diaz's 21,805.
Tom Gordon
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 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Edwin Diaz is still active — his totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Edwin Diaz | Tom Gordon |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 30 | Leads: 138 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 126 |
| Games | 541 | Leads: 890 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 203 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 18 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 4 |
| Saves | Leads: 260 | 158 |
| Strikeouts | 867 | Leads: 1,928 |
| Walks not scored | 193 | 977 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 382 | 1,889 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 176 |
| Innings Pitched | 538.0 | Leads: 2,108.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.03 | 3.96 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.07 | 1.36 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.50 | 8.23 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.23 | 4.17 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tom Gordon leads Edwin Diaz 29,014 to 21,805 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Tom Gordon played 22 seasons to Edwin Diaz's 9, while Edwin Diaz carries the higher per-season figure (2,423 to 1,319). 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).
Edwin Diaz
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Tom Gordon — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tom Gordon leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Edwin Diaz owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tom Gordon. PIV agrees: Tom Gordon grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Edwin Diaz and Tom Gordon careers compare
No season is shared: Tom Gordon played 1988–2009, Edwin Diaz 2016–present. The table compares 541 games of Edwin Diaz with 890 of Tom Gordon across 9 and 22 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. By rate, Edwin Diaz struck out 14.50 and walked 3.23 per nine innings; Tom Gordon struck out 8.23 and walked 4.17. Edwin Diaz worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 541 games, 260 saves), while Tom Gordon split time between starting and relief (203 starts in 890 games). In WHIP, Edwin Diaz's 1.07 beats Tom Gordon's 1.36. Only Tom Gordon has a season on the peak list; Edwin Diaz never reached the qualifying workload. Because Edwin Diaz is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Edwin Diaz vs Tom Gordon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Edwin Diaz or Tom Gordon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tom Gordon leads Edwin Diaz in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Edwin Diaz, with 3.03 to Tom Gordon's 3.96.
- Who won more games?
- Tom Gordon, with 138 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tom Gordon, with 1,928 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Tom Gordon's 1.36.