Heath Bell vs Brad Lidge: Career Stats Comparison
Heath Bell (2004–2014) and Brad Lidge (2002–2012) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Heath Bell compiled 38 wins and 637 strikeouts; Brad Lidge put up 26 wins and 799 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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 | Heath Bell | Brad Lidge |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | 26 |
| Losses | 32 | 32 |
| Games | 590 | 603 |
| Games Started | 0 | 1 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 168 | 225 |
| Strikeouts | 637 | 799 |
| Walks | 214 | 287 |
| Hits Allowed | 584 | 492 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 48 | 57 |
| Innings Pitched | 628 | 603 |
| ERA | 3.49 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | 1.27 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | 9.12 | 11.92 |
| BB/9 | 3.06 | 4.28 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Brad Lidge edges Heath Bell 17,126 to 16,481 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,557 vs 1,498 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).
Heath Bell — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Brad Lidge — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
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.