Edwin Diaz vs Willie Hernandez: Career Stats Comparison
Edwin Diaz and Willie Hernandez are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 5–5 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Edwin Diaz has played 2016–present as a pitcher; Willie Hernandez played 1977–1989 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 Willie Hernandez (1977–1989) — 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; Willie Hernandez finished with 70 wins and 788 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 Willie Hernandez's 3.38.
- Who won more games? Willie Hernandez, with 70 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Edwin Diaz, with 867 to Willie Hernandez's 788.
- Who had the better WHIP? Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Willie Hernandez's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Willie Hernandez, with 1,044.2 to Edwin Diaz's 538.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Edwin Diaz, with 21,805 career Pitcher PIV to Willie Hernandez's 10,045.
Willie Hernandez
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 | Willie Hernandez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 30 | Leads: 70 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 63 |
| Games | 541 | Leads: 744 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 11 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 260 | 147 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 867 | 788 |
| Walks not scored | 193 | 349 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 382 | 952 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 97 |
| Innings Pitched | 538.0 | Leads: 1,044.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.03 | 3.38 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.07 | 1.25 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.50 | 6.79 |
| BB/9 | 3.23 | Leads: 3.01 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Edwin Diaz outpaces Willie Hernandez 21,805 to 10,045 — driven by per-season impact — 2,423 PIV per season to 718 — rather than by longevity, since Edwin Diaz played 9 seasons to Willie Hernandez's 14. 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.
Willie Hernandez — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Edwin Diaz leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Willie Hernandez owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Edwin Diaz. PIV agrees: Edwin Diaz 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 Willie Hernandez careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Willie Hernandez's ended in 1989, and Edwin Diaz debuted in 2016. With 541 games against 744 across 9 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Edwin Diaz struck out 14.50 and walked 3.23 per nine innings; Willie Hernandez struck out 6.79 and walked 3.01. Both had the same role: Edwin Diaz worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 541 games, 260 saves); Willie Hernandez worked mostly in relief (11 starts in 744 games, 147 saves). Edwin Diaz allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.07 WHIP to Willie Hernandez's 1.25. Because Edwin Diaz is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Edwin Diaz vs Willie Hernandez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Edwin Diaz, with 3.03 to Willie Hernandez's 3.38.
- Who won more games?
- Willie Hernandez, with 70 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Edwin Diaz, with 867 to Willie Hernandez's 788.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Willie Hernandez's 1.25.