Bruce Sutter vs Kent Tekulve: Career Stats Comparison
Bruce Sutter 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). Bruce Sutter played 1976–1988 as a pitcher; Kent Tekulve played 1974–1989 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
Bruce Sutter (1976–1988) and Kent Tekulve (1974–1989) — both came up during the 1970s, so the matchup is a direct one. Bruce Sutter finished with 68 wins and 861 strikeouts; Kent Tekulve finished with 94 wins and 779 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bruce Sutter, with 2.83 to Kent Tekulve's 2.85.
- Who won more games? Kent Tekulve, with 94 to Bruce Sutter's 68.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bruce Sutter, with 861 to Kent Tekulve's 779.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bruce Sutter, with 1.14 to Kent Tekulve's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Kent Tekulve, with 1,436.2 to Bruce Sutter's 1,042.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bruce Sutter, with 23,292 career Pitcher PIV to Kent Tekulve's 22,171.
Bruce Sutter
Kent Tekulve
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bruce Sutter | Kent Tekulve |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 68 | Leads: 94 |
| Losses not scored | 71 | 90 |
| Games | 661 | Leads: 1,050 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 300 | 184 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 861 | 779 |
| Walks not scored | 309 | 491 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 879 | 1,305 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 77 | 63 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,042.0 | Leads: 1,436.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.83 | 2.85 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.25 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.44 | 4.88 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.67 | 3.08 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bruce Sutter edges Kent Tekulve 23,292 to 22,171 — driven by per-season impact — 1,941 PIV per season to 1,304 — rather than by longevity, since Bruce Sutter played 12 seasons to Kent Tekulve's 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).
Bruce Sutter — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Kent Tekulve — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bruce Sutter leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Kent Tekulve owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bruce Sutter. PIV agrees: Bruce Sutter grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bruce Sutter and Kent Tekulve careers compare
From 1976 through 1988, Bruce Sutter and Kent Tekulve were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Bruce Sutter appeared in 661 games to Kent Tekulve's 1,050. Kent Tekulve's edges on the table are wins (94 to 68), games (1,050 to 661), and innings (1,436.2 to 1,042.0). By rate, Bruce Sutter struck out 7.44 and walked 2.67 per nine innings; Kent Tekulve struck out 4.88 and walked 3.08. Bruce Sutter worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 661 games, 300 saves), and Kent Tekulve worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 1,050 games, 184 saves). In WHIP, Bruce Sutter's 1.14 beats Kent Tekulve's 1.25.
Bruce Sutter vs Kent Tekulve: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bruce Sutter or Kent Tekulve?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bruce Sutter leads Kent Tekulve in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bruce Sutter, with 2.83 to Kent Tekulve's 2.85.
- Who won more games?
- Kent Tekulve, with 94 to Bruce Sutter's 68.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bruce Sutter, with 861 to Kent Tekulve's 779.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bruce Sutter, with 1.14 to Kent Tekulve's 1.25.