Robb Nen vs Dan Plesac: Career Stats Comparison
Robb Nen and Dan Plesac are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 5–5 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Robb Nen played 1993–2002 as a pitcher; Dan Plesac played 1986–2003 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
Robb Nen (1993–2002) and Dan Plesac (1986–2003) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Robb Nen finished with 45 wins and 793 strikeouts; Dan Plesac finished with 65 wins and 1,041 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Robb Nen, with 2.98 to Dan Plesac's 3.64.
- Who won more games? Dan Plesac, with 65 to Robb Nen's 45.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Dan Plesac, with 1,041 to Robb Nen's 793.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robb Nen, with 1.21 to Dan Plesac's 1.29.
- Who pitched more innings? Dan Plesac, with 1,072.0 to Robb Nen's 715.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Robb Nen, with 28,255 career Pitcher PIV to Dan Plesac's 20,030.
Dan Plesac
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 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Robb Nen | Dan Plesac |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 45 | Leads: 65 |
| Losses not scored | 42 | 71 |
| Games | 643 | Leads: 1,064 |
| Games Started | 4 | Leads: 14 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 314 | 158 |
| Strikeouts | 793 | Leads: 1,041 |
| Walks not scored | 260 | 402 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 607 | 977 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 51 | 105 |
| Innings Pitched | 715.0 | Leads: 1,072.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.98 | 3.64 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.21 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.98 | 8.74 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.27 | 3.38 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robb Nen outpaces Dan Plesac 28,255 to 20,030 — driven by per-season impact — 2,569 PIV per season to 1,002 — rather than by longevity, since Robb Nen played 11 seasons to Dan Plesac's 20. 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).
Robb Nen
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Dan Plesac
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Robb Nen leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Dan Plesac owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Robb Nen. PIV agrees: Robb Nen grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Robb Nen and Dan Plesac careers compare
The careers of Robb Nen (1993–2002) and Dan Plesac (1986–2003) overlapped from 1993 to 2002, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. Dan Plesac has the far longer record, 1,064 games against 643 across 11 and 20 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. By rate, Robb Nen struck out 9.98 and walked 3.27 per nine innings; Dan Plesac struck out 8.74 and walked 3.38. Both had the same role: Robb Nen worked mostly in relief (4 starts in 643 games, 314 saves); Dan Plesac worked mostly in relief (14 starts in 1,064 games, 158 saves). Robb Nen allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.21 WHIP to Dan Plesac's 1.29.
Robb Nen vs Dan Plesac: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Robb Nen, with 2.98 to Dan Plesac's 3.64.
- Who won more games?
- Dan Plesac, with 65 to Robb Nen's 45.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Dan Plesac, with 1,041 to Robb Nen's 793.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robb Nen, with 1.21 to Dan Plesac's 1.29.