Dan Plesac vs Jeff Reardon: Career Stats Comparison
Jeff Reardon has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Dan Plesac played 1986–2003 as a pitcher; Jeff Reardon played 1979–1994 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
Dan Plesac (1986–2003) and Jeff Reardon (1979–1994) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Dan Plesac finished with 65 wins and 1,041 strikeouts; Jeff Reardon finished with 73 wins and 877 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jeff Reardon, with 3.16 to Dan Plesac's 3.64.
- Who won more games? Jeff Reardon, with 73 to Dan Plesac's 65.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Dan Plesac, with 1,041 to Jeff Reardon's 877.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jeff Reardon, with 1.20 to Dan Plesac's 1.29.
- Who pitched more innings? Jeff Reardon, with 1,132.1 to Dan Plesac's 1,072.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Dan Plesac, with 20,030 career Pitcher PIV to Jeff Reardon's 11,952.
Dan Plesac
Jeff Reardon
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 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Dan Plesac | Jeff Reardon |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 65 | Leads: 73 |
| Losses not scored | 71 | 77 |
| Games | Leads: 1,064 | 880 |
| Games Started | Leads: 14 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 158 | Leads: 367 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,041 | 877 |
| Walks not scored | 402 | 358 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 977 | 1,000 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 105 | 109 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,072.0 | Leads: 1,132.1 |
| ERA | 3.64 | Leads: 3.16 |
| WHIP | 1.29 | Leads: 1.20 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.74 | 6.97 |
| BB/9 | 3.38 | Leads: 2.85 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dan Plesac outpaces Jeff Reardon 20,030 to 11,952 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,002 PIV per season to 664, across 20 seasons to 18. 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).
Dan Plesac
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Jeff Reardon
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jeff Reardon leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Dan Plesac owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jeff Reardon. Note that PIV actually grades Dan Plesac ahead, which means Jeff Reardon's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dan Plesac and Jeff Reardon careers compare
Dan Plesac and Jeff Reardon were active at the same time between 1986 and 1994. The two careers are close in length, 1,064 games for Dan Plesac and 880 for Jeff Reardon across 20 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Dan Plesac are games (1,064 to 880), starts (14 to 0), and strikeouts (1,041 to 877). By rate, Dan Plesac struck out 8.74 and walked 3.38 per nine innings; Jeff Reardon struck out 6.97 and walked 2.85.
Dan Plesac vs Jeff Reardon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dan Plesac or Jeff Reardon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jeff Reardon leads Dan Plesac in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jeff Reardon, with 3.16 to Dan Plesac's 3.64.
- Who won more games?
- Jeff Reardon, with 73 to Dan Plesac's 65.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Dan Plesac, with 1,041 to Jeff Reardon's 877.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jeff Reardon, with 1.20 to Dan Plesac's 1.29.