Josh Beckett vs Madison Bumgarner: Career Stats Comparison
Madison Bumgarner has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Josh Beckett played 2001–2014 as a pitcher; Madison Bumgarner played 2009–2023 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
Josh Beckett (2001–2014) and Madison Bumgarner (2009–2023) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Josh Beckett finished with 138 wins and 1,901 strikeouts; Madison Bumgarner finished with 134 wins and 2,070 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Madison Bumgarner, with 3.47 to Josh Beckett's 3.88.
- Who won more games? Josh Beckett, with 138 to Madison Bumgarner's 134.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Madison Bumgarner, with 2,070 to Josh Beckett's 1,901.
- Who had the better WHIP? Madison Bumgarner, with 1.15 to Josh Beckett's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Madison Bumgarner, with 2,209.1 to Josh Beckett's 2,051.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Madison Bumgarner, with 7 to Josh Beckett's 6.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Madison Bumgarner, with 26,439 career Pitcher PIV to Josh Beckett's 25,548.
Josh Beckett
Madison Bumgarner
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 | Josh Beckett | Madison Bumgarner |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 138 | 134 |
| Losses not scored | 106 | 124 |
| Games | 335 | Leads: 358 |
| Games Started | 332 | Leads: 355 |
| Complete Games | 12 | Leads: 16 |
| Shutouts | 6 | Leads: 7 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,901 | Leads: 2,070 |
| Walks not scored | 629 | 544 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,897 | 2,007 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 238 | 258 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,051.0 | Leads: 2,209.1 |
| ERA | 3.88 | Leads: 3.47 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.15 |
| K/9 | 8.34 | Leads: 8.43 |
| BB/9 | 2.76 | Leads: 2.22 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Madison Bumgarner edges Josh Beckett 26,439 to 25,548 — driven by per-season impact — 1,763 PIV per season to 1,703 — rather than by longevity, since Madison Bumgarner played 15 seasons to Josh Beckett's 15. 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).
Josh Beckett — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Madison Bumgarner — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Madison Bumgarner leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Josh Beckett owns wins. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Madison Bumgarner. PIV agrees: Madison Bumgarner grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Josh Beckett and Madison Bumgarner careers compare
The careers of Josh Beckett (2001–2014) and Madison Bumgarner (2009–2023) overlapped from 2009 to 2014, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 335 games against 358 across 15 and 15 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Josh Beckett comes out ahead, it is in wins (138 to 134). The per-nine rows read 8.34 strikeouts and 2.76 walks for Josh Beckett, 8.43 and 2.22 for Madison Bumgarner. Josh Beckett was mainly a starter (332 starts in 335 games), and Madison Bumgarner was mainly a starter (355 starts in 358 games). Madison Bumgarner allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.15 WHIP to Josh Beckett's 1.23.
Josh Beckett vs Madison Bumgarner: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Josh Beckett or Madison Bumgarner?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Madison Bumgarner leads Josh Beckett in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Madison Bumgarner, with 3.47 to Josh Beckett's 3.88.
- Who won more games?
- Josh Beckett, with 138 to Madison Bumgarner's 134.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Madison Bumgarner, with 2,070 to Josh Beckett's 1,901.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Madison Bumgarner, with 1.15 to Josh Beckett's 1.23.