Andy Pettitte vs Bret Saberhagen: Career Stats Comparison
Andy Pettitte and Bret Saberhagen are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Andy Pettitte played 1995–2013 as a pitcher; Bret Saberhagen played 1984–2001 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
Andy Pettitte (1995–2013) and Bret Saberhagen (1984–2001) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Andy Pettitte finished with 256 wins and 2,448 strikeouts; Bret Saberhagen finished with 167 wins and 1,715 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bret Saberhagen, with 3.34 to Andy Pettitte's 3.85.
- Who won more games? Andy Pettitte, with 256 to Bret Saberhagen's 167.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Andy Pettitte, with 2,448 to Bret Saberhagen's 1,715.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bret Saberhagen, with 1.14 to Andy Pettitte's 1.35.
- Who pitched more innings? Andy Pettitte, with 3,316.0 to Bret Saberhagen's 2,562.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bret Saberhagen, with 16 to Andy Pettitte's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Andy Pettitte, with 57,293 career Pitcher PIV to Bret Saberhagen's 53,065.
Andy Pettitte
Bret Saberhagen
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 | Andy Pettitte | Bret Saberhagen |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 256 | 167 |
| Losses not scored | 153 | 117 |
| Games | Leads: 531 | 399 |
| Games Started | Leads: 521 | 371 |
| Complete Games | 26 | Leads: 76 |
| Shutouts | 4 | Leads: 16 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,448 | 1,715 |
| Walks not scored | 1,031 | 471 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,448 | 2,452 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 288 | 218 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,316.0 | 2,562.2 |
| ERA | 3.85 | Leads: 3.34 |
| WHIP | 1.35 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.64 | 6.02 |
| BB/9 | 2.80 | Leads: 1.65 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Andy Pettitte edges Bret Saberhagen 57,293 to 53,065 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,183 PIV per season to 3,122, across 18 seasons to 17. 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).
Andy Pettitte — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bret Saberhagen — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Andy Pettitte leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Bret Saberhagen owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Andy Pettitte. PIV agrees: Andy Pettitte grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Andy Pettitte and Bret Saberhagen careers compare
From 1995 through 2001, Andy Pettitte and Bret Saberhagen were in the majors together. With 531 games against 399 across 18 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 6.64 strikeouts and 2.80 walks for Andy Pettitte, 6.02 and 1.65 for Bret Saberhagen. Both had the same role: Andy Pettitte was mainly a starter (521 starts in 531 games); Bret Saberhagen was mainly a starter (371 starts in 399 games). Bret Saberhagen allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.14 WHIP to Andy Pettitte's 1.35.
Andy Pettitte vs Bret Saberhagen: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bret Saberhagen, with 3.34 to Andy Pettitte's 3.85.
- Who won more games?
- Andy Pettitte, with 256 to Bret Saberhagen's 167.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Andy Pettitte, with 2,448 to Bret Saberhagen's 1,715.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bret Saberhagen, with 1.14 to Andy Pettitte's 1.35.