Randy Johnson vs Dennis Martinez: Career Stats Comparison
Randy Johnson has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 as a pitcher; Dennis Martinez played 1976–1998 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
Randy Johnson (1988–2009) and Dennis Martinez (1976–1998) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts; Dennis Martinez finished with 245 wins and 2,149 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Randy Johnson, with 3.29 to Dennis Martinez's 3.70.
- Who won more games? Randy Johnson, with 303 to Dennis Martinez's 245.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Dennis Martinez's 2,149.
- Who had the better WHIP? Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Dennis Martinez's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Randy Johnson, with 4,135.1 to Dennis Martinez's 3,999.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Randy Johnson, with 37 to Dennis Martinez's 30.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Randy Johnson, with 122,530 career Pitcher PIV to Dennis Martinez's 5,904.
Randy Johnson
Dennis Martinez
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 | Randy Johnson | Dennis Martinez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 303 | 245 |
| Losses not scored | 166 | 193 |
| Games | 618 | Leads: 692 |
| Games Started | Leads: 603 | 562 |
| Complete Games | 100 | Leads: 122 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 37 | 30 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 8 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,875 | 2,149 |
| Walks not scored | 1,497 | 1,165 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,346 | 3,897 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 411 | 372 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,135.1 | 3,999.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.29 | 3.70 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.17 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.61 | 4.84 |
| BB/9 | 3.26 | Leads: 2.62 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson outpaces Dennis Martinez 122,530 to 5,904 — driven by per-season impact — 5,105 PIV per season to 246 — rather than by longevity, since Randy Johnson played 24 seasons to Dennis Martinez's 24. 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).
Randy Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Dennis Martinez — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Randy Johnson leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Dennis Martinez owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Randy Johnson. PIV agrees: Randy Johnson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Randy Johnson and Dennis Martinez careers compare
Randy Johnson and Dennis Martinez were active at the same time between 1988 and 1998. With 618 games against 692 across 24 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Dennis Martinez comes out ahead, it is in games (692 to 618), complete games (122 to 100), and saves (8 to 2). By rate, Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26 per nine innings; Dennis Martinez struck out 4.84 and walked 2.62. Both had the same role: Randy Johnson was mainly a starter (603 starts in 618 games); Dennis Martinez was mainly a starter (562 starts in 692 games).
Randy Johnson vs Dennis Martinez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Randy Johnson or Dennis Martinez?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Randy Johnson leads Dennis Martinez in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Randy Johnson, with 3.29 to Dennis Martinez's 3.70.
- Who won more games?
- Randy Johnson, with 303 to Dennis Martinez's 245.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Dennis Martinez's 2,149.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Dennis Martinez's 1.27.