Jonathan Papelbon vs Bruce Sutter: Career Stats Comparison
Jonathan Papelbon has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jonathan Papelbon played 2005–2016 as a pitcher; Bruce Sutter played 1976–1988 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 Bruce Sutter (1976–1988) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jonathan Papelbon finished with 41 wins and 808 strikeouts; Bruce Sutter finished with 68 wins and 861 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 Bruce Sutter's 2.83.
- Who won more games? Bruce Sutter, with 68 to Jonathan Papelbon's 41.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bruce Sutter, with 861 to Jonathan Papelbon's 808.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jonathan Papelbon, with 1.04 to Bruce Sutter's 1.14.
- Who pitched more innings? Bruce Sutter, with 1,042.0 to Jonathan Papelbon's 725.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jonathan Papelbon, with 24,416 career Pitcher PIV to Bruce Sutter's 23,292.
Jonathan Papelbon
Bruce Sutter
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 2000s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jonathan Papelbon | Bruce Sutter |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 41 | Leads: 68 |
| Losses not scored | 36 | 71 |
| Games | Leads: 689 | 661 |
| Games Started | Leads: 3 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 368 | 300 |
| Strikeouts | 808 | Leads: 861 |
| Walks not scored | 185 | 309 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 572 | 879 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 77 |
| Innings Pitched | 725.2 | Leads: 1,042.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.44 | 2.83 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.04 | 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.02 | 7.44 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.29 | 2.67 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jonathan Papelbon edges Bruce Sutter 24,416 to 23,292 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jonathan Papelbon played 13 seasons to Bruce Sutter's 12, while Bruce Sutter carries the higher per-season figure (1,941 to 1,878). 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).
Jonathan Papelbon
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Bruce Sutter — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jonathan Papelbon leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Bruce Sutter owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jonathan Papelbon. PIV agrees: Jonathan Papelbon grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jonathan Papelbon and Bruce Sutter careers compare
No season is shared: Bruce Sutter played 1976–1988, Jonathan Papelbon 2005–2016. With 689 games against 661 across 13 and 12 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Bruce Sutter's edges on the table are wins (68 to 41), strikeouts (861 to 808), and innings (1,042.0 to 725.2). By rate, Jonathan Papelbon struck out 10.02 and walked 2.29 per nine innings; Bruce Sutter struck out 7.44 and walked 2.67. Both had the same role: Jonathan Papelbon worked mostly in relief (3 starts in 689 games, 368 saves); Bruce Sutter worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 661 games, 300 saves). In WHIP, Jonathan Papelbon's 1.04 beats Bruce Sutter's 1.14.
Jonathan Papelbon vs Bruce Sutter: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jonathan Papelbon or Bruce Sutter?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jonathan Papelbon leads Bruce Sutter in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 2.44 to Bruce Sutter's 2.83.
- Who won more games?
- Bruce Sutter, with 68 to Jonathan Papelbon's 41.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bruce Sutter, with 861 to Jonathan Papelbon's 808.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 1.04 to Bruce Sutter's 1.14.