Nolan Arenado vs Matt Carpenter: Career Stats Comparison
Nolan Arenado has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Nolan Arenado has played 2013–present as a hitter; Matt Carpenter played 2011–2024 as a hitter.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
Nolan Arenado (2013–present) and Matt Carpenter (2011–2024) — both broke in during the 2010s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Nolan Arenado has 2,057 hits and 383 home runs through October 12, 2026; Matt Carpenter finished with 1,257 hits and 179 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Nolan Arenado, with 383 to Matt Carpenter's 179.
- Who had the higher OPS? Nolan Arenado, with .843 to Matt Carpenter's .814.
- Who had the higher batting average? Nolan Arenado, with .280 to Matt Carpenter's .259.
- Who had more hits? Nolan Arenado, with 2,057 to Matt Carpenter's 1,257.
- Who drove in more runs? Nolan Arenado, with 1,270 to Matt Carpenter's 659.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Nolan Arenado, with 21,230 career PIV to Matt Carpenter's 14,122.
- Who won more championships? Matt Carpenter, with 1 World Series title to Nolan Arenado's 0.
Nolan Arenado
Matt Carpenter
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Nolan Arenado and Matt Carpenter. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 14 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other one is a counting total on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded it. Counting stats reward longevity, and strikeouts are left unmarked because a longer career accumulates more of them. 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.
Nolan Arenado is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Nolan Arenado | Matt Carpenter |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,939 | 1,511 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,340 | 4,856 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,072 | 813 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,057 | 1,257 |
| Doubles | Leads: 430 | 329 |
| Triples | Leads: 35 | 28 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 383 | 179 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,270 | 659 |
| Walks | 629 | Leads: 774 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,214 | 1,225 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 35 | 28 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .280 | .259 |
| On-Base % | .338 | Leads: .366 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .505 | .449 |
| OPS | Leads: .843 | .814 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Nolan Arenado outpaces Matt Carpenter 21,230 to 14,122 — driven by per-season impact — 1,633 PIV per season to 1,009 — rather than by longevity, since Nolan Arenado played 13 seasons to Matt Carpenter's 14. 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 OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Nolan Arenado — top 3 seasons by OPS
Matt Carpenter — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Nolan Arenado leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Matt Carpenter owns OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Nolan Arenado. PIV agrees: Nolan Arenado grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Nolan Arenado and Matt Carpenter careers compare
Nolan Arenado and Matt Carpenter were active at the same time between 2013 and 2024. With 1,939 games against 1,511 across 13 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Matt Carpenter comes out ahead, it is in walks (774 to 629) and on-base percentage (.366 to .338). At the plate, Nolan Arenado struck out more than walked (1,214 to 629), and Matt Carpenter struck out more than walked (1,225 to 774). Nolan Arenado is the more power-leaning hitter, with 383 of 2,057 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Nolan Arenado holds the edge, .505 to .449. Nolan Arenado's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Nolan Arenado vs Matt Carpenter: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Nolan Arenado or Matt Carpenter?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Nolan Arenado leads Matt Carpenter in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Nolan Arenado or Matt Carpenter hit more home runs?
- Nolan Arenado, with 383 to Matt Carpenter's 179.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Nolan Arenado, with .843 to Matt Carpenter's .814.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Nolan Arenado, with .280 to Matt Carpenter's .259.
- Who had more hits?
- Nolan Arenado, with 2,057 to Matt Carpenter's 1,257.