Kelvim Escobar vs Dan Plesac: Career Stats Comparison
Kelvim Escobar and Dan Plesac are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Kelvim Escobar played 1997–2009 as a pitcher; Dan Plesac played 1986–2003 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
Kelvim Escobar (1997–2009) and Dan Plesac (1986–2003) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Kelvim Escobar finished with 101 wins and 1,310 strikeouts; Dan Plesac finished with 65 wins and 1,041 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dan Plesac, with 3.64 to Kelvim Escobar's 4.15.
- Who won more games? Kelvim Escobar, with 101 to Dan Plesac's 65.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Kelvim Escobar, with 1,310 to Dan Plesac's 1,041.
- Who had the better WHIP? Dan Plesac, with 1.29 to Kelvim Escobar's 1.37.
- Who pitched more innings? Kelvim Escobar, with 1,507.0 to Dan Plesac's 1,072.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Kelvim Escobar, with 4 to Dan Plesac's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Kelvim Escobar, with 25,219 career Pitcher PIV to Dan Plesac's 20,030.
Kelvim Escobar
Dan Plesac
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 1990s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Kelvim Escobar | Dan Plesac |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 101 | 65 |
| Losses not scored | 91 | 71 |
| Games | 411 | Leads: 1,064 |
| Games Started | Leads: 202 | 14 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 10 | 0 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 4 | 0 |
| Saves | 59 | Leads: 158 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,310 | 1,041 |
| Walks not scored | 611 | 402 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,461 | 977 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 137 | 105 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,507.0 | 1,072.0 |
| ERA | 4.15 | Leads: 3.64 |
| WHIP | 1.37 | Leads: 1.29 |
| K/9 | 7.82 | Leads: 8.74 |
| BB/9 | 3.65 | Leads: 3.38 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kelvim Escobar leads Dan Plesac 25,219 to 20,030 — driven by per-season impact — 2,102 PIV per season to 1,002 — rather than by longevity, since Kelvim Escobar played 12 seasons to Dan Plesac's 20. 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).
Kelvim Escobar — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Dan Plesac
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Kelvim Escobar leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Dan Plesac owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Kelvim Escobar. PIV agrees: Kelvim Escobar grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Kelvim Escobar and Dan Plesac careers compare
From 1997 through 2003, Kelvim Escobar and Dan Plesac were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Kelvim Escobar appeared in 411 games to Dan Plesac's 1,064. By rate, Kelvim Escobar struck out 7.82 and walked 3.65 per nine innings; Dan Plesac struck out 8.74 and walked 3.38. Kelvim Escobar split time between starting and relief (202 starts in 411 games), while Dan Plesac worked mostly in relief (14 starts in 1,064 games, 158 saves). In WHIP, Dan Plesac's 1.29 beats Kelvim Escobar's 1.37. Only Kelvim Escobar has a season on the peak list; Dan Plesac never reached the qualifying workload.
Kelvim Escobar vs Dan Plesac: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dan Plesac, with 3.64 to Kelvim Escobar's 4.15.
- Who won more games?
- Kelvim Escobar, with 101 to Dan Plesac's 65.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Kelvim Escobar, with 1,310 to Dan Plesac's 1,041.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Dan Plesac, with 1.29 to Kelvim Escobar's 1.37.