Jonathan Papelbon vs David Robertson: Career Stats Comparison
Jonathan Papelbon and David Robertson are close to even, splitting the 10 statistical categories compared on this page 5–5. Jonathan Papelbon played 2005–2016 as a pitcher; David Robertson has played 2008–present 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
Jonathan Papelbon (2005–2016) and David Robertson (2008–present) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Jonathan Papelbon compiled 41 wins and 808 strikeouts; David Robertson put up 68 wins and 1,176 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jonathan Papelbon, with 2.44 to David Robertson's 2.93.
- Who won more games? David Robertson, with 68 to Jonathan Papelbon's 41.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? David Robertson, with 1,176 to Jonathan Papelbon's 808.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jonathan Papelbon, with 1.04 to David Robertson's 1.16.
- Who pitched more innings? David Robertson, with 894 to Jonathan Papelbon's 725.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? David Robertson, with 25,283 career Pitcher PIV to Jonathan Papelbon's 24,416.
Jonathan Papelbon
David Robertson
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 | Jonathan Papelbon | David Robertson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 41 | Leads: 68 |
| Losses | 36 | 46 |
| Games | 689 | Leads: 881 |
| Games Started | Leads: 3 | 1 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 368 | 179 |
| Strikeouts | 808 | Leads: 1,176 |
| Walks | 185 | 365 |
| Hits Allowed | 572 | 674 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 57 | 81 |
| Innings Pitched | 725 | Leads: 894 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.44 | 2.93 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.04 | 1.16 |
| K/9 | 10.02 | Leads: 11.83 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.29 | 3.67 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), David Robertson edges Jonathan Papelbon 25,283 to 24,416 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,264 vs 1,878 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).
Jonathan Papelbon
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
David Robertson
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, David Robertson leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Jonathan Papelbon owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to David Robertson. PIV agrees: David Robertson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Jonathan Papelbon vs David Robertson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 2.44 to David Robertson's 2.93.
- Who won more games?
- David Robertson, with 68 to Jonathan Papelbon's 41.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- David Robertson, with 1,176 to Jonathan Papelbon's 808.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 1.04 to David Robertson's 1.16.