Mike Mussina vs Mariano Rivera: Career Stats Comparison
Mike Mussina 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). Mike Mussina played 1991–2008 as a pitcher; Mariano Rivera played 1995–2013 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
Mike Mussina (1991–2008) and Mariano Rivera (1995–2013) — both came up during the 1990s, so the matchup is a direct one. Mike Mussina finished with 270 wins and 2,813 strikeouts; Mariano Rivera finished with 82 wins and 1,173 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Mariano Rivera, with 2.21 to Mike Mussina's 3.68.
- Who won more games? Mike Mussina, with 270 to Mariano Rivera's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Mike Mussina, with 2,813 to Mariano Rivera's 1,173.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Mike Mussina's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Mike Mussina, with 3,562.2 to Mariano Rivera's 1,283.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Mike Mussina, with 23 to Mariano Rivera's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mike Mussina, with 76,572 career Pitcher PIV to Mariano Rivera's 52,571.
Mike Mussina
Mariano Rivera
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 | Mike Mussina | Mariano Rivera |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 270 | 82 |
| Losses not scored | 153 | 60 |
| Games | 537 | Leads: 1,115 |
| Games Started | Leads: 536 | 10 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 57 | 0 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 23 | 0 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 652 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,813 | 1,173 |
| Walks not scored | 785 | 286 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,460 | 998 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 376 | 71 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,562.2 | 1,283.2 |
| ERA | 3.68 | Leads: 2.21 |
| WHIP | 1.19 | Leads: 1.00 |
| K/9 | 7.11 | Leads: 8.22 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.98 | 2.01 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mike Mussina outpaces Mariano Rivera 76,572 to 52,571 — driven by per-season impact — 4,254 PIV per season to 2,767 — rather than by longevity, since Mike Mussina played 18 seasons to Mariano Rivera's 19. 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).
Mike Mussina — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Mariano Rivera
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mike Mussina leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Mariano Rivera owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mike Mussina. PIV agrees: Mike Mussina grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera careers compare
Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera were active at the same time between 1995 and 2008. Mariano Rivera has the far longer record, 1,115 games against 537 across 18 and 19 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. The per-nine rows read 7.11 strikeouts and 1.98 walks for Mike Mussina, 8.22 and 2.01 for Mariano Rivera. Mike Mussina was mainly a starter (536 starts in 537 games), while Mariano Rivera worked mostly in relief (10 starts in 1,115 games, 652 saves). The complete-game row, 57 against 0, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games. Mariano Rivera allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.00 WHIP to Mike Mussina's 1.19.
Mike Mussina vs Mariano Rivera: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mike Mussina or Mariano Rivera?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mike Mussina leads Mariano Rivera in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mariano Rivera, with 2.21 to Mike Mussina's 3.68.
- Who won more games?
- Mike Mussina, with 270 to Mariano Rivera's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Mike Mussina, with 2,813 to Mariano Rivera's 1,173.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Mike Mussina's 1.19.