Joe Nathan vs Francisco Rodriguez: Career Stats Comparison
Francisco Rodriguez 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; Francisco Rodriguez played 2002–2017 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 Francisco Rodriguez (2002–2017) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Joe Nathan finished with 64 wins and 976 strikeouts; Francisco Rodriguez finished with 52 wins and 1,142 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Francisco Rodriguez, with 2.86 to Joe Nathan's 2.87.
- Who won more games? Joe Nathan, with 64 to Francisco Rodriguez's 52.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Francisco Rodriguez, with 1,142 to Joe Nathan's 976.
- Who had the better WHIP? Joe Nathan, with 1.12 to Francisco Rodriguez's 1.15.
- Who pitched more innings? Francisco Rodriguez, with 976.0 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 Francisco Rodriguez's 21,669.
Francisco Rodriguez
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 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Joe Nathan | Francisco Rodriguez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 64 | 52 |
| Losses not scored | 34 | 53 |
| Games | 787 | Leads: 948 |
| Games Started | Leads: 29 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 377 | Leads: 437 |
| Strikeouts | 976 | Leads: 1,142 |
| Walks not scored | 344 | 389 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 690 | 738 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 84 | 98 |
| Innings Pitched | 923.1 | Leads: 976.0 |
| ERA | 2.87 | Leads: 2.86 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.15 |
| K/9 | 9.51 | Leads: 10.53 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.35 | 3.59 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Joe Nathan edges Francisco Rodriguez 22,319 to 21,669 — driven by per-season impact — 1,313 PIV per season to 1,204 — rather than by longevity, since Joe Nathan played 17 seasons to Francisco Rodriguez'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.
Francisco Rodriguez
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Francisco Rodriguez leads in strikeouts, ERA, K/9, and innings pitched, while Joe Nathan owns wins and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Francisco Rodriguez. Note that PIV actually grades Joe Nathan ahead, which means Francisco Rodriguez's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Joe Nathan and Francisco Rodriguez careers compare
Joe Nathan and Francisco Rodriguez were active at the same time between 2002 and 2016. With 787 games against 948 across 17 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Joe Nathan's edges on the table are wins (64 to 52), starts (29 to 0), and WHIP (1.12 to 1.15). By rate, Joe Nathan struck out 9.51 and walked 3.35 per nine innings; Francisco Rodriguez struck out 10.53 and walked 3.59. Joe Nathan worked mostly in relief (29 starts in 787 games, 377 saves), and Francisco Rodriguez worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 948 games, 437 saves). Joe Nathan allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.12 WHIP to Francisco Rodriguez's 1.15.
Joe Nathan vs Francisco Rodriguez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Joe Nathan or Francisco Rodriguez?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Francisco Rodriguez leads Joe Nathan in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Francisco Rodriguez, with 2.86 to Joe Nathan's 2.87.
- Who won more games?
- Joe Nathan, with 64 to Francisco Rodriguez's 52.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Francisco Rodriguez, with 1,142 to Joe Nathan's 976.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Joe Nathan, with 1.12 to Francisco Rodriguez's 1.15.