Orel Hershiser vs Steve Rogers: Career Stats Comparison
Orel Hershiser 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). Orel Hershiser played 1983–2000 as a pitcher; Steve Rogers played 1973–1985 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 Steve Rogers (1973–1985) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Orel Hershiser finished with 204 wins and 2,014 strikeouts; Steve Rogers finished with 158 wins and 1,621 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Steve Rogers, with 3.17 to Orel Hershiser's 3.48.
- Who won more games? Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Steve Rogers's 158.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Orel Hershiser, with 2,014 to Steve Rogers's 1,621.
- Who had the better WHIP? Steve Rogers, with 1.23 to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Orel Hershiser, with 3,130.1 to Steve Rogers's 2,837.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Steve Rogers, with 37 to Orel Hershiser's 25.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Steve Rogers, with 44,265 career Pitcher PIV to Orel Hershiser's 37,276.
Orel Hershiser
Steve Rogers
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 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Orel Hershiser | Steve Rogers |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 204 | 158 |
| Losses not scored | 150 | 152 |
| Games | Leads: 510 | 399 |
| Games Started | Leads: 466 | 393 |
| Complete Games | 68 | Leads: 129 |
| Shutouts | 25 | Leads: 37 |
| Saves | Leads: 5 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,014 | 1,621 |
| Walks not scored | 1,007 | 876 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,939 | 2,619 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 235 | 151 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,130.1 | 2,837.2 |
| ERA | 3.48 | Leads: 3.17 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.23 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.79 | 5.14 |
| BB/9 | 2.90 | Leads: 2.78 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Steve Rogers leads Orel Hershiser 44,265 to 37,276 — driven by per-season impact — 3,405 PIV per season to 2,071 — rather than by longevity, since Steve Rogers played 13 seasons to Orel Hershiser's 18. 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).
Orel Hershiser — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Steve Rogers — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Orel Hershiser leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Steve Rogers owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Orel Hershiser. Note that PIV actually grades Steve Rogers ahead, which means Orel Hershiser's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Orel Hershiser and Steve Rogers careers compare
From 1983 through 1985, Orel Hershiser and Steve Rogers were in the majors together. With 510 games against 399 across 18 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Orel Hershiser struck out 5.79 and walked 2.90 per nine innings; Steve Rogers struck out 5.14 and walked 2.78. Orel Hershiser was mainly a starter (466 starts in 510 games), and Steve Rogers was mainly a starter (393 starts in 399 games). Steve Rogers allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.23 WHIP to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.
Orel Hershiser vs Steve Rogers: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Orel Hershiser or Steve Rogers?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Orel Hershiser leads Steve Rogers in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Steve Rogers, with 3.17 to Orel Hershiser's 3.48.
- Who won more games?
- Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Steve Rogers's 158.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Orel Hershiser, with 2,014 to Steve Rogers's 1,621.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Steve Rogers, with 1.23 to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.