Edwin Diaz vs Jonathan Papelbon: Career Stats Comparison
Jonathan Papelbon 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; 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
Edwin Diaz (2016–present) and Jonathan Papelbon (2005–2016) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Edwin Diaz has 30 wins and 867 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; 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? Jonathan Papelbon, with 2.44 to Edwin Diaz's 3.03.
- Who won more games? Jonathan Papelbon, with 41 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Edwin Diaz, with 867 to Jonathan Papelbon's 808.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jonathan Papelbon, with 1.04 to Edwin Diaz's 1.07.
- Who pitched more innings? Jonathan Papelbon, with 725.2 to Edwin Diaz's 538.0.
- 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 Edwin Diaz's 21,805.
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.
Edwin Diaz is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Edwin Diaz | Jonathan Papelbon |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 30 | Leads: 41 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 36 |
| Games | 541 | Leads: 689 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 3 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 260 | Leads: 368 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 867 | 808 |
| Walks not scored | 193 | 185 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 382 | 572 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 57 |
| Innings Pitched | 538.0 | Leads: 725.2 |
| ERA | 3.03 | Leads: 2.44 |
| WHIP | 1.07 | Leads: 1.04 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.50 | 10.02 |
| BB/9 | 3.23 | Leads: 2.29 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jonathan Papelbon leads Edwin Diaz 24,416 to 21,805 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jonathan Papelbon played 13 seasons to Edwin Diaz's 9, while Edwin Diaz carries the higher per-season figure (2,423 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).
Edwin Diaz
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, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Edwin Diaz owns strikeouts and K/9. 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 Edwin Diaz and Jonathan Papelbon careers compare
Edwin Diaz and Jonathan Papelbon were active at the same time between 2016 and 2016. With 541 games against 689 across 9 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Edwin Diaz comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts (867 to 808) and strikeouts per nine (14.50 to 10.02). The per-nine rows read 14.50 strikeouts and 3.23 walks for Edwin Diaz, 10.02 and 2.29 for Jonathan Papelbon. Edwin Diaz worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 541 games, 260 saves), and Jonathan Papelbon worked mostly in relief (3 starts in 689 games, 368 saves). In WHIP, Jonathan Papelbon's 1.04 beats Edwin Diaz's 1.07. Because Edwin Diaz is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Edwin Diaz vs Jonathan Papelbon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Edwin Diaz or Jonathan Papelbon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jonathan Papelbon leads Edwin Diaz in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 2.44 to Edwin Diaz's 3.03.
- Who won more games?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 41 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Edwin Diaz, with 867 to Jonathan Papelbon's 808.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 1.04 to Edwin Diaz's 1.07.