Joe Nathan vs Jeff Reardon: Career Stats Comparison
Joe Nathan 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). Joe Nathan played 1999–2016 as a pitcher; Jeff Reardon played 1979–1994 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
Joe Nathan (1999–2016) and Jeff Reardon (1979–1994) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Joe Nathan finished with 64 wins and 976 strikeouts; Jeff Reardon finished with 73 wins and 877 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Joe Nathan, with 2.87 to Jeff Reardon's 3.16.
- Who won more games? Jeff Reardon, with 73 to Joe Nathan's 64.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Joe Nathan, with 976 to Jeff Reardon's 877.
- Who had the better WHIP? Joe Nathan, with 1.12 to Jeff Reardon's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Jeff Reardon, with 1,132.1 to Joe Nathan's 923.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Joe Nathan, with 22,319 career Pitcher PIV to Jeff Reardon's 11,952.
Jeff Reardon
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 1990s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Joe Nathan | Jeff Reardon |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 64 | Leads: 73 |
| Losses not scored | 34 | 77 |
| Games | 787 | Leads: 880 |
| Games Started | Leads: 29 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 377 | 367 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 976 | 877 |
| Walks not scored | 344 | 358 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 690 | 1,000 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 84 | 109 |
| Innings Pitched | 923.1 | Leads: 1,132.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.87 | 3.16 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.20 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.51 | 6.97 |
| BB/9 | 3.35 | Leads: 2.85 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Joe Nathan outpaces Jeff Reardon 22,319 to 11,952 — driven by per-season impact — 1,313 PIV per season to 664 — rather than by longevity, since Joe Nathan played 17 seasons to Jeff Reardon'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).
Joe Nathan
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Jeff Reardon
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Joe Nathan leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Jeff Reardon owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Joe Nathan. PIV agrees: Joe Nathan grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Joe Nathan and Jeff Reardon careers compare
No season is shared: Jeff Reardon played 1979–1994, Joe Nathan 1999–2016. With 787 games against 880 across 17 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Jeff Reardon's edges on the table are wins (73 to 64), games (880 to 787), and innings (1,132.1 to 923.1). By rate, Joe Nathan struck out 9.51 and walked 3.35 per nine innings; Jeff Reardon struck out 6.97 and walked 2.85. Both had the same role: Joe Nathan worked mostly in relief (29 starts in 787 games, 377 saves); Jeff Reardon worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 880 games, 367 saves). In WHIP, Joe Nathan's 1.12 beats Jeff Reardon's 1.20.
Joe Nathan vs Jeff Reardon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Joe Nathan or Jeff Reardon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Joe Nathan leads Jeff Reardon in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Joe Nathan, with 2.87 to Jeff Reardon's 3.16.
- Who won more games?
- Jeff Reardon, with 73 to Joe Nathan's 64.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Joe Nathan, with 976 to Jeff Reardon's 877.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Joe Nathan, with 1.12 to Jeff Reardon's 1.20.