Kevin Brown vs David Wells: Career Stats Comparison
Kevin Brown and David Wells are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Kevin Brown played 1986–2005 as a pitcher; David Wells played 1987–2007 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 David Wells (1987–2007) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Kevin Brown finished with 211 wins and 2,397 strikeouts; David Wells finished with 239 wins and 2,201 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 David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games? David Wells, with 239 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Kevin Brown, with 2,397 to David Wells's 2,201.
- Who had the better WHIP? Kevin Brown, with 1.22 to David Wells's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? David Wells, with 3,439.0 to Kevin Brown's 3,256.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Kevin Brown, with 17 to David Wells's 12.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Kevin Brown, with 82,163 career Pitcher PIV to David Wells's 31,301.
Kevin Brown
David Wells
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 | David Wells |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 211 | Leads: 239 |
| Losses not scored | 144 | 157 |
| Games | 486 | Leads: 660 |
| Games Started | 476 | Leads: 489 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 72 | 54 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 17 | 12 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 13 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,397 | 2,201 |
| Walks not scored | 901 | 719 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,079 | 3,635 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 208 | 407 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,256.1 | Leads: 3,439.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.28 | 4.13 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.22 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.62 | 5.76 |
| BB/9 | 2.49 | Leads: 1.88 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kevin Brown outpaces David Wells 82,163 to 31,301 — driven by per-season impact — 4,324 PIV per season to 1,304 — rather than by longevity, since Kevin Brown played 19 seasons to David Wells's 24. 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)
David Wells — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Kevin Brown leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while David Wells owns wins and innings pitched. 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 David Wells careers compare
From 1987 through 2005, Kevin Brown and David Wells were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 486 games for Kevin Brown and 660 for David Wells across 19 and 24 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The per-nine rows read 6.62 strikeouts and 2.49 walks for Kevin Brown, 5.76 and 1.88 for David Wells. Both had the same role: Kevin Brown was mainly a starter (476 starts in 486 games); David Wells was mainly a starter (489 starts in 660 games). In WHIP, Kevin Brown's 1.22 beats David Wells's 1.27.
Kevin Brown vs David Wells: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Kevin Brown, with 3.28 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games?
- David Wells, with 239 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Kevin Brown, with 2,397 to David Wells's 2,201.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Kevin Brown, with 1.22 to David Wells's 1.27.