Edwin Diaz vs Rich Gossage: Career Stats Comparison
Rich Gossage has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Rich Gossage played 1972–1994 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 Rich Gossage (1972–1994) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Edwin Diaz has 30 wins and 867 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Rich Gossage finished with 124 wins and 1,502 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Rich Gossage, with 3.01 to Edwin Diaz's 3.03.
- Who won more games? Rich Gossage, with 124 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP? Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Rich Gossage's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Rich Gossage, with 1,809.1 to Edwin Diaz's 538.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rich Gossage, with 28,157 career Pitcher PIV to Edwin Diaz's 21,805.
Rich Gossage
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 1970s 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 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Edwin Diaz | Rich Gossage |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 30 | Leads: 124 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 107 |
| Games | 541 | Leads: 1,002 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 37 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 16 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 260 | Leads: 310 |
| Strikeouts | 867 | Leads: 1,502 |
| Walks not scored | 193 | 732 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 382 | 1,497 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 119 |
| Innings Pitched | 538.0 | Leads: 1,809.1 |
| ERA | 3.03 | Leads: 3.01 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.07 | 1.23 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.50 | 7.47 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.23 | 3.64 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rich Gossage leads Edwin Diaz 28,157 to 21,805 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rich Gossage played 23 seasons to Edwin Diaz's 9, while Edwin Diaz carries the higher per-season figure (2,423 to 1,224). 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.
Rich Gossage — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rich Gossage leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Edwin Diaz owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rich Gossage. PIV agrees: Rich Gossage 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 Rich Gossage careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Rich Gossage's ended in 1994, and Edwin Diaz debuted in 2016. Rich Gossage has the far longer record, 1,002 games against 541 across 9 and 23 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. The green cells for Edwin Diaz are WHIP (1.07 to 1.23), strikeouts per nine (14.50 to 7.47), and walks per nine (3.23 to 3.64). By rate, Edwin Diaz struck out 14.50 and walked 3.23 per nine innings; Rich Gossage struck out 7.47 and walked 3.64. Both had the same role: Edwin Diaz worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 541 games, 260 saves); Rich Gossage worked mostly in relief (37 starts in 1,002 games, 310 saves). Edwin Diaz's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Edwin Diaz vs Rich Gossage: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Edwin Diaz or Rich Gossage?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rich Gossage leads Edwin Diaz in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rich Gossage, with 3.01 to Edwin Diaz's 3.03.
- Who won more games?
- Rich Gossage, with 124 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Rich Gossage's 1.23.