Mark Melancon vs Joakim Soria: Career Stats Comparison
Mark Melancon (2009–2022) and Joakim Soria (2007–2021) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Mark Melancon compiled 37 wins and 643 strikeouts; Joakim Soria put up 36 wins and 831 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Mark Melancon | Joakim Soria |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 37 | 36 |
| Losses | 40 | 45 |
| Games | 732 | 773 |
| Games Started | 0 | 1 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 262 | 229 |
| Strikeouts | 643 | 831 |
| Walks | 192 | 231 |
| Hits Allowed | 657 | 633 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 44 | 67 |
| Innings Pitched | 726 | 763 |
| ERA | 2.94 | 3.11 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | 1.13 |
| K/9 | 7.96 | 9.80 |
| BB/9 | 2.38 | 2.72 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Joakim Soria leads Mark Melancon 21,162 to 19,354 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,176 vs 1,138 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).
Mark Melancon — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Joakim Soria — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
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.