Kevin Appier vs A. J. Burnett: Career Stats Comparison
Kevin Appier (1989–2004) and A. J. Burnett (1999–2015) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Kevin Appier compiled 169 wins and 1,994 strikeouts; A. J. Burnett put up 164 wins and 2,513 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Kevin Appier
A. J. Burnett
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Kevin Appier | A. J. Burnett |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 169 | 164 |
| Losses | 137 | 157 |
| Games | 414 | 435 |
| Games Started | 402 | 430 |
| Complete Games | 34 | 24 |
| Shutouts | 12 | 10 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,994 | 2,513 |
| Walks | 933 | 1,100 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,425 | 2,519 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 232 | 263 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,595 | 2,731 |
| ERA | 3.74 | 3.99 |
| WHIP | 1.29 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | 6.91 | 8.28 |
| BB/9 | 3.24 | 3.62 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kevin Appier outpaces A. J. Burnett 34,391 to 24,537 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,911 vs 1,443 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Kevin Appier — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
A. J. Burnett — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Kevin Appier leads in wins, ERA, and WHIP, while A. J. Burnett owns strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Kevin Appier. PIV agrees: Kevin Appier grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.