Kevin Brown vs Fernando Valenzuela: Career Stats Comparison
Kevin Brown has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Kevin Brown played 1986–2005 as a pitcher; Fernando Valenzuela played 1980–1997 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
Kevin Brown (1986–2005) and Fernando Valenzuela (1980–1997) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Kevin Brown finished with 211 wins and 2,397 strikeouts; Fernando Valenzuela finished with 173 wins and 2,074 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Kevin Brown, with 3.28 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Kevin Brown, with 211 to Fernando Valenzuela's 173.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Kevin Brown, with 2,397 to Fernando Valenzuela's 2,074.
- Who had the better WHIP? Kevin Brown, with 1.22 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Kevin Brown, with 3,256.1 to Fernando Valenzuela's 2,930.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fernando Valenzuela, with 31 to Kevin Brown's 17.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Kevin Brown, with 82,163 career Pitcher PIV to Fernando Valenzuela's 30,102.
Kevin Brown
Fernando Valenzuela
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 | Kevin Brown | Fernando Valenzuela |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 211 | 173 |
| Losses not scored | 144 | 153 |
| Games | Leads: 486 | 453 |
| Games Started | Leads: 476 | 424 |
| Complete Games | 72 | Leads: 113 |
| Shutouts | 17 | Leads: 31 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 2 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,397 | 2,074 |
| Walks not scored | 901 | 1,151 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,079 | 2,718 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 208 | 226 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,256.1 | 2,930.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.28 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.22 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.62 | 6.37 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.49 | 3.54 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kevin Brown outpaces Fernando Valenzuela 82,163 to 30,102 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 4,324 PIV per season to 1,672, across 19 seasons to 18. 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).
Kevin Brown — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Fernando Valenzuela — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Kevin Brown leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Fernando Valenzuela owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Kevin Brown. PIV agrees: Kevin Brown grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Kevin Brown and Fernando Valenzuela careers compare
From 1986 through 1997, Kevin Brown and Fernando Valenzuela were in the majors together. With 486 games against 453 across 19 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Fernando Valenzuela comes out ahead, it is in complete games (113 to 72), shutouts (31 to 17), and saves (2 to 0). The per-nine rows read 6.62 strikeouts and 2.49 walks for Kevin Brown, 6.37 and 3.54 for Fernando Valenzuela. Both had the same role: Kevin Brown was mainly a starter (476 starts in 486 games); Fernando Valenzuela was mainly a starter (424 starts in 453 games). Kevin Brown allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.22 WHIP to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
Kevin Brown vs Fernando Valenzuela: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Kevin Brown or Fernando Valenzuela?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Kevin Brown leads Fernando Valenzuela in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Kevin Brown, with 3.28 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Kevin Brown, with 211 to Fernando Valenzuela's 173.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Kevin Brown, with 2,397 to Fernando Valenzuela's 2,074.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Kevin Brown, with 1.22 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.