Josh Beckett vs A. J. Burnett: Career Stats Comparison
Josh Beckett (2001–2014) and A. J. Burnett (1999–2015) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Josh Beckett compiled 138 wins and 1,901 strikeouts; A. J. Burnett put up 164 wins and 2,513 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Josh Beckett
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 | Josh Beckett | A. J. Burnett |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 138 | 164 |
| Losses | 106 | 157 |
| Games | 335 | 435 |
| Games Started | 332 | 430 |
| Complete Games | 12 | 24 |
| Shutouts | 6 | 10 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,901 | 2,513 |
| Walks | 629 | 1,100 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,897 | 2,519 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 238 | 263 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,051 | 2,731 |
| ERA | 3.88 | 3.99 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | 8.34 | 8.28 |
| BB/9 | 2.76 | 3.62 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Josh Beckett edges A. J. Burnett 25,548 to 24,537 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,703 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).
Josh Beckett — 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, Josh Beckett leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while A. J. Burnett owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Josh Beckett. PIV agrees: Josh Beckett grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.