Robb Nen vs Billy Wagner: Career Stats Comparison
Billy Wagner has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 10 statistical categories compared on this page. Robb Nen played 1993–2002 as a pitcher; Billy Wagner played 1995–2010 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 Billy Wagner (1995–2010) — both came up during the 1990s, so the matchup is a direct one. Robb Nen compiled 45 wins and 793 strikeouts; Billy Wagner put up 47 wins and 1,196 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Billy Wagner, with 2.31 to Robb Nen's 2.98.
- Who won more games? Billy Wagner, with 47 to Robb Nen's 45.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Billy Wagner, with 1,196 to Robb Nen's 793.
- Who had the better WHIP? Billy Wagner, with 1.00 to Robb Nen's 1.21.
- Who pitched more innings? Billy Wagner, with 903 to Robb Nen's 715.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Billy Wagner, with 38,470 career Pitcher PIV to Robb Nen's 28,255.
Billy Wagner
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Robb Nen | Billy Wagner |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 45 | Leads: 47 |
| Losses | 42 | 40 |
| Games | 643 | Leads: 853 |
| Games Started | Leads: 4 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 314 | Leads: 422 |
| Strikeouts | 793 | Leads: 1,196 |
| Walks | 260 | 300 |
| Hits Allowed | 607 | 601 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 51 | 82 |
| Innings Pitched | 715 | Leads: 903 |
| ERA | 2.98 | Leads: 2.31 |
| WHIP | 1.21 | Leads: 1.00 |
| K/9 | 9.98 | Leads: 11.92 |
| BB/9 | 3.27 | Leads: 2.99 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Billy Wagner outpaces Robb Nen 38,470 to 28,255 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,263 vs 2,569 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).
Robb Nen
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Billy Wagner
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Billy Wagner leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Robb Nen owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Billy Wagner. PIV agrees: Billy Wagner grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Robb Nen vs Billy Wagner: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Robb Nen or Billy Wagner?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Billy Wagner leads Robb Nen in 9 of 10 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Billy Wagner, with 2.31 to Robb Nen's 2.98.
- Who won more games?
- Billy Wagner, with 47 to Robb Nen's 45.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Billy Wagner, with 1,196 to Robb Nen's 793.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Billy Wagner, with 1.00 to Robb Nen's 1.21.