Edwin Diaz vs Steve Howe: Career Stats Comparison
Edwin Diaz 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). Edwin Diaz has played 2016–present as a pitcher; Steve Howe played 1980–1996 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 Steve Howe (1980–1996) — 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 12, 2026; Steve Howe finished with 47 wins and 328 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Neither — both are at 3.03.
- Who won more games? Steve Howe, with 47 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Edwin Diaz, with 867 to Steve Howe's 328.
- Who had the better WHIP? Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Steve Howe's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Howe, with 606.0 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 Steve Howe's 12,134.
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 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Edwin Diaz | Steve Howe |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 30 | Leads: 47 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 41 |
| Games | Leads: 541 | 497 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 260 | 91 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 867 | 328 |
| Walks not scored | 193 | 139 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 382 | 586 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 32 |
| Innings Pitched | 538.0 | Leads: 606.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.03 | 3.03 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.07 | 1.20 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.50 | 4.87 |
| BB/9 | 3.23 | Leads: 2.06 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Edwin Diaz outpaces Steve Howe 21,805 to 12,134 — driven by per-season impact — 2,423 PIV per season to 933 — rather than by longevity, since Edwin Diaz played 9 seasons to Steve Howe's 13. 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.
Steve Howe
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Edwin Diaz leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Steve Howe 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 Steve Howe careers compare
No season is shared: Steve Howe played 1980–1996, Edwin Diaz 2016–present. With 541 games against 497 across 9 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Steve Howe are wins (47 to 30), innings (606.0 to 538.0), and walks per nine (2.06 to 3.23). The per-nine rows read 14.50 strikeouts and 3.23 walks for Edwin Diaz, 4.87 and 2.06 for Steve Howe. Both had the same role: Edwin Diaz worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 541 games, 260 saves); Steve Howe worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 497 games, 91 saves). Edwin Diaz allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.07 WHIP to Steve Howe's 1.20. Edwin Diaz's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Edwin Diaz vs Steve Howe: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Edwin Diaz or Steve Howe?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Edwin Diaz leads Steve Howe in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Neither — both are at 3.03.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Howe, with 47 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Edwin Diaz, with 867 to Steve Howe's 328.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Steve Howe's 1.20.