Edwin Diaz vs Dave Righetti: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Righetti 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; Dave Righetti played 1979–1995 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 Dave Righetti (1979–1995) — 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; Dave Righetti finished with 82 wins and 1,112 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 Dave Righetti's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Dave Righetti, with 82 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Dave Righetti, with 1,112 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP? Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Dave Righetti's 1.34.
- Who pitched more innings? Dave Righetti, with 1,403.2 to Edwin Diaz's 538.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Dave Righetti, with 2 to Edwin Diaz's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Edwin Diaz, with 21,805 career Pitcher PIV to Dave Righetti's 20,202.
Dave Righetti
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 | Dave Righetti |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 30 | Leads: 82 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 79 |
| Games | 541 | Leads: 718 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 89 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 13 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 2 |
| Saves | Leads: 260 | 252 |
| Strikeouts | 867 | Leads: 1,112 |
| Walks not scored | 193 | 591 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 382 | 1,287 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 95 |
| Innings Pitched | 538.0 | Leads: 1,403.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.03 | 3.46 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.07 | 1.34 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.50 | 7.13 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.23 | 3.79 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Edwin Diaz edges Dave Righetti 21,805 to 20,202 — driven by per-season impact — 2,423 PIV per season to 1,188 — rather than by longevity, since Edwin Diaz played 9 seasons to Dave Righetti's 17. 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.
Dave Righetti — top 2 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Edwin Diaz leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Dave Righetti owns wins, strikeouts, 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 Dave Righetti careers compare
Dave Righetti (1979–1995) was finished before Edwin Diaz (2016–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 541 games against 718 across 9 and 17 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; Dave Righetti struck out 7.13 and walked 3.79. Edwin Diaz worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 541 games, 260 saves), and Dave Righetti worked mostly in relief (89 starts in 718 games, 252 saves). Edwin Diaz allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.07 WHIP to Dave Righetti's 1.34. Only Dave Righetti has a season on the peak list; Edwin Diaz never reached the qualifying workload. Edwin Diaz's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Edwin Diaz vs Dave Righetti: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Edwin Diaz or Dave Righetti?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Righetti leads Edwin Diaz in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Edwin Diaz, with 3.03 to Dave Righetti's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Dave Righetti, with 82 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Dave Righetti, with 1,112 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Dave Righetti's 1.34.