Steve Rogers vs Fernando Valenzuela: Career Stats Comparison
Fernando Valenzuela 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). Steve Rogers played 1973–1985 as a pitcher; Fernando Valenzuela played 1980–1997 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
Steve Rogers (1973–1985) and Fernando Valenzuela (1980–1997) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Steve Rogers finished with 158 wins and 1,621 strikeouts; Fernando Valenzuela finished with 173 wins and 2,074 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Steve Rogers, with 3.17 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Fernando Valenzuela, with 173 to Steve Rogers's 158.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,074 to Steve Rogers's 1,621.
- Who had the better WHIP? Steve Rogers, with 1.23 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,930.0 to Steve Rogers's 2,837.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Steve Rogers, with 37 to Fernando Valenzuela's 31.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Steve Rogers, with 44,265 career Pitcher PIV to Fernando Valenzuela's 30,102.
Steve Rogers
Fernando Valenzuela
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 1970s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Steve Rogers | Fernando Valenzuela |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 158 | Leads: 173 |
| Losses not scored | 152 | 153 |
| Games | 399 | Leads: 453 |
| Games Started | 393 | Leads: 424 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 129 | 113 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 37 | 31 |
| Saves | 2 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 1,621 | Leads: 2,074 |
| Walks not scored | 876 | 1,151 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,619 | 2,718 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 151 | 226 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,837.2 | Leads: 2,930.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.17 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | 5.14 | Leads: 6.37 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.78 | 3.54 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Steve Rogers outpaces Fernando Valenzuela 44,265 to 30,102 — driven by per-season impact — 3,405 PIV per season to 1,672 — rather than by longevity, since Steve Rogers played 13 seasons to Fernando Valenzuela's 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).
Steve Rogers — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Fernando Valenzuela — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fernando Valenzuela leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Steve Rogers owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fernando Valenzuela. Note that PIV actually grades Steve Rogers ahead, which means Fernando Valenzuela's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Steve Rogers and Fernando Valenzuela careers compare
Steve Rogers and Fernando Valenzuela were active at the same time between 1980 and 1985. With 399 games against 453 across 13 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 5.14 strikeouts and 2.78 walks for Steve Rogers, 6.37 and 3.54 for Fernando Valenzuela. Both had the same role: Steve Rogers was mainly a starter (393 starts in 399 games); Fernando Valenzuela was mainly a starter (424 starts in 453 games). In WHIP, Steve Rogers's 1.23 beats Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32. Best seasons: 1973 for Steve Rogers (1.54 ERA, 10-5, 64 K in 134 IP) and 1985 for Fernando Valenzuela (2.45 ERA, 17-10, 208 K in 272 IP).
Steve Rogers vs Fernando Valenzuela: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Rogers or Fernando Valenzuela?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fernando Valenzuela leads Steve Rogers in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Steve Rogers, with 3.17 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Fernando Valenzuela, with 173 to Steve Rogers's 158.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,074 to Steve Rogers's 1,621.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Steve Rogers, with 1.23 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.