Mark Melancon vs Joakim Soria: Career Stats Comparison
Joakim Soria has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Mark Melancon played 2009–2022 as a pitcher; Joakim Soria played 2007–2021 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
Mark Melancon (2009–2022) and Joakim Soria (2007–2021) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Mark Melancon finished with 37 wins and 643 strikeouts; Joakim Soria finished with 36 wins and 831 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Mark Melancon, with 2.94 to Joakim Soria's 3.11.
- Who won more games? Mark Melancon, with 37 to Joakim Soria's 36.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Joakim Soria, with 831 to Mark Melancon's 643.
- Who had the better WHIP? Joakim Soria, with 1.13 to Mark Melancon's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Joakim Soria, with 763.0 to Mark Melancon's 726.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Joakim Soria, with 21,162 career Pitcher PIV to Mark Melancon's 19,354.
Mark Melancon
Joakim Soria
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mark Melancon | Joakim Soria |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 37 | 36 |
| Losses not scored | 40 | 45 |
| Games | 732 | Leads: 773 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 262 | 229 |
| Strikeouts | 643 | Leads: 831 |
| Walks not scored | 192 | 231 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 657 | 633 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 44 | 67 |
| Innings Pitched | 726.2 | Leads: 763.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.94 | 3.11 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.13 |
| K/9 | 7.96 | Leads: 9.80 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.38 | 2.72 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Joakim Soria leads Mark Melancon 21,162 to 19,354 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,176 PIV per season to 1,138, across 18 seasons to 17. 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).
Mark Melancon
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Joakim Soria
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Joakim Soria leads in strikeouts, WHIP, K/9, and innings pitched, while Mark Melancon owns wins and ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Joakim Soria. PIV agrees: Joakim Soria grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mark Melancon and Joakim Soria careers compare
Mark Melancon and Joakim Soria were active at the same time between 2009 and 2021. With 732 games against 773 across 17 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Mark Melancon's edges on the table are wins (37 to 36), saves (262 to 229), and ERA (2.94 to 3.11). The per-nine rows read 7.96 strikeouts and 2.38 walks for Mark Melancon, 9.80 and 2.72 for Joakim Soria. Both had the same role: Mark Melancon worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 732 games, 262 saves); Joakim Soria worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 773 games, 229 saves). Joakim Soria allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.13 WHIP to Mark Melancon's 1.17.
Mark Melancon vs Joakim Soria: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mark Melancon or Joakim Soria?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Joakim Soria leads Mark Melancon in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mark Melancon, with 2.94 to Joakim Soria's 3.11.
- Who won more games?
- Mark Melancon, with 37 to Joakim Soria's 36.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Joakim Soria, with 831 to Mark Melancon's 643.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Joakim Soria, with 1.13 to Mark Melancon's 1.17.