Kelvim Escobar vs Mariano Rivera: Career Stats Comparison
Kelvim Escobar and Mariano Rivera are close to even, splitting the 12 statistical categories compared on this page 6–6. Kelvim Escobar played 1997–2009 as a pitcher; Mariano Rivera played 1995–2013 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 Mariano Rivera (1995–2013) — both came up during the 1990s, so the matchup is a direct one. Kelvim Escobar compiled 101 wins and 1,310 strikeouts; Mariano Rivera put up 82 wins and 1,173 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Mariano Rivera, with 2.21 to Kelvim Escobar's 4.15.
- Who won more games? Kelvim Escobar, with 101 to Mariano Rivera's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Kelvim Escobar, with 1,310 to Mariano Rivera's 1,173.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Kelvim Escobar's 1.37.
- Who pitched more innings? Kelvim Escobar, with 1,507 to Mariano Rivera's 1,283.
- Who threw more shutouts? Kelvim Escobar, with 4 to Mariano Rivera's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mariano Rivera, with 52,571 career Pitcher PIV to Kelvim Escobar's 25,219.
Kelvim Escobar
Mariano Rivera
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Kelvim Escobar | Mariano Rivera |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 101 | 82 |
| Losses | 91 | 60 |
| Games | 411 | Leads: 1,115 |
| Games Started | Leads: 202 | 10 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 10 | 0 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 4 | 0 |
| Saves | 59 | Leads: 652 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,310 | 1,173 |
| Walks | 611 | 286 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,461 | 998 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 137 | 71 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,507 | 1,283 |
| ERA | 4.15 | Leads: 2.21 |
| WHIP | 1.37 | Leads: 1.00 |
| K/9 | 7.82 | Leads: 8.22 |
| BB/9 | 3.65 | Leads: 2.01 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mariano Rivera outpaces Kelvim Escobar 52,571 to 25,219 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,767 vs 2,102 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
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)
Mariano Rivera
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mariano Rivera leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Kelvim Escobar owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mariano Rivera. PIV agrees: Mariano Rivera grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Kelvim Escobar vs Mariano Rivera: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mariano Rivera, with 2.21 to Kelvim Escobar's 4.15.
- Who won more games?
- Kelvim Escobar, with 101 to Mariano Rivera's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Kelvim Escobar, with 1,310 to Mariano Rivera's 1,173.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Kelvim Escobar's 1.37.