Orel Hershiser vs Jose Rijo: Career Stats Comparison
Orel Hershiser has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Orel Hershiser played 1983–2000 as a pitcher; Jose Rijo played 1984–2002 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
Orel Hershiser (1983–2000) and Jose Rijo (1984–2002) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Orel Hershiser compiled 204 wins and 2,014 strikeouts; Jose Rijo put up 116 wins and 1,606 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jose Rijo, with 3.24 to Orel Hershiser's 3.48.
- Who won more games? Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Jose Rijo's 116.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Orel Hershiser, with 2,014 to Jose Rijo's 1,606.
- Who had the better WHIP? Neither — both are at 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Orel Hershiser, with 3,130 to Jose Rijo's 1,880.
- Who threw more shutouts? Orel Hershiser, with 25 to Jose Rijo's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Orel Hershiser, with 37,276 career Pitcher PIV to Jose Rijo's 35,808.
Orel Hershiser
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 | Orel Hershiser | Jose Rijo |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 204 | 116 |
| Losses | 150 | 91 |
| Games | Leads: 510 | 376 |
| Games Started | Leads: 466 | 269 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 68 | 22 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 25 | 4 |
| Saves | Leads: 5 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,014 | 1,606 |
| Walks | 1,007 | 663 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,939 | 1,710 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 235 | 147 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,130 | 1,880 |
| ERA | 3.48 | Leads: 3.24 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.26 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | 5.79 | Leads: 7.69 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.90 | 3.17 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Orel Hershiser edges Jose Rijo 37,276 to 35,808 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,071 vs 2,558 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).
Orel Hershiser — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jose Rijo — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Orel Hershiser leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Jose Rijo owns ERA and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Orel Hershiser. PIV agrees: Orel Hershiser grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Orel Hershiser vs Jose Rijo: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Orel Hershiser or Jose Rijo?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Orel Hershiser leads Jose Rijo in 10 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jose Rijo, with 3.24 to Orel Hershiser's 3.48.
- Who won more games?
- Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Jose Rijo's 116.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Orel Hershiser, with 2,014 to Jose Rijo's 1,606.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Neither — both are at 1.26.