Heath Bell vs Brad Lidge: Career Stats Comparison
Heath Bell and Brad Lidge are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 5–5 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Heath Bell played 2004–2014 as a pitcher; Brad Lidge played 2002–2012 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
Heath Bell (2004–2014) and Brad Lidge (2002–2012) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Heath Bell finished with 38 wins and 637 strikeouts; Brad Lidge finished with 26 wins and 799 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Heath Bell, with 3.49 to Brad Lidge's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Heath Bell, with 38 to Brad Lidge's 26.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Brad Lidge, with 799 to Heath Bell's 637.
- Who had the better WHIP? Heath Bell, with 1.27 to Brad Lidge's 1.29.
- Who pitched more innings? Heath Bell, with 628.2 to Brad Lidge's 603.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Brad Lidge, with 17,126 career Pitcher PIV to Heath Bell's 16,481.
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 | Heath Bell | Brad Lidge |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 38 | 26 |
| Losses not scored | 32 | 32 |
| Games | 590 | Leads: 603 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 168 | Leads: 225 |
| Strikeouts | 637 | Leads: 799 |
| Walks not scored | 214 | 287 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 584 | 492 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 48 | 57 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 628.2 | 603.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.49 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.27 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | 9.12 | Leads: 11.92 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.06 | 4.28 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Brad Lidge edges Heath Bell 17,126 to 16,481 — driven by per-season impact — 1,557 PIV per season to 1,498 — rather than by longevity, since Brad Lidge played 11 seasons to Heath Bell's 11. 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).
Heath Bell
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Brad Lidge
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Heath Bell leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Brad Lidge owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Heath Bell. Note that PIV actually grades Brad Lidge ahead, which means Heath Bell's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Heath Bell and Brad Lidge careers compare
The careers of Heath Bell (2004–2014) and Brad Lidge (2002–2012) overlapped from 2004 to 2012, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 590 games against 603 across 11 and 11 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Heath Bell struck out 9.12 and walked 3.06 per nine innings; Brad Lidge struck out 11.92 and walked 4.28. Heath Bell worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 590 games, 168 saves), and Brad Lidge worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 603 games, 225 saves). In WHIP, Heath Bell's 1.27 beats Brad Lidge's 1.29.
Heath Bell vs Brad Lidge: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Heath Bell, with 3.49 to Brad Lidge's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Heath Bell, with 38 to Brad Lidge's 26.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Brad Lidge, with 799 to Heath Bell's 637.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Heath Bell, with 1.27 to Brad Lidge's 1.29.