Corbin Burnes vs Willie Foster: Career Stats Comparison
Willie Foster has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Corbin Burnes has played 2018–present as a pitcher; Willie Foster played ?–1937 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
Corbin Burnes (2018–present) and Willie Foster (?–1937) — they pitched in different contexts, so adjusted stats matter. Corbin Burnes has 63 wins and 1,122 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Willie Foster finished with 125 wins and 1,062 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Willie Foster, with 2.66 to Corbin Burnes's 3.20.
- Who won more games? Willie Foster, with 125 to Corbin Burnes's 63.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Corbin Burnes, with 1,122 to Willie Foster's 1,062.
- Who had the better WHIP? Corbin Burnes, with 1.08 to Willie Foster's 1.15.
- Who pitched more innings? Willie Foster, with 1,665.0 to Corbin Burnes's 978.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Willie Foster, with 34 to Corbin Burnes's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Willie Foster, with 41,672 career Pitcher PIV to Corbin Burnes's 23,443.
Corbin Burnes
Willie Foster
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.
Corbin Burnes is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Corbin Burnes | Willie Foster |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 63 | Leads: 125 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 60 |
| Games | 213 | Leads: 262 |
| Games Started | 152 | Leads: 185 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 142 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 34 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 14 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,122 | 1,062 |
| Walks not scored | 284 | 522 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 768 | 1,397 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 109 | 41 |
| Innings Pitched | 978.1 | Leads: 1,665.0 |
| ERA | 3.20 | Leads: 2.66 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.08 | 1.15 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.32 | 5.74 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.61 | 2.82 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Willie Foster outpaces Corbin Burnes 41,672 to 23,443 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Willie Foster played 19 seasons to Corbin Burnes's 8, while Corbin Burnes carries the higher per-season figure (2,930 to 2,193). 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).
Corbin Burnes — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Willie Foster — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Willie Foster leads in wins, ERA, and innings pitched, while Corbin Burnes owns strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Willie Foster. PIV agrees: Willie Foster grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Corbin Burnes and Willie Foster careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Willie Foster's ended in 1937, and Corbin Burnes debuted in 2018. With 213 games against 262 across 8 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Corbin Burnes comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts (1,122 to 1,062), WHIP (1.08 to 1.15), and strikeouts per nine (10.32 to 5.74). By rate, Corbin Burnes struck out 10.32 and walked 2.61 per nine innings; Willie Foster struck out 5.74 and walked 2.82. Both had the same role: Corbin Burnes was mainly a starter (152 starts in 213 games); Willie Foster was mainly a starter (185 starts in 262 games). Because Corbin Burnes is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Corbin Burnes vs Willie Foster: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Corbin Burnes or Willie Foster?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Willie Foster leads Corbin Burnes in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Willie Foster, with 2.66 to Corbin Burnes's 3.20.
- Who won more games?
- Willie Foster, with 125 to Corbin Burnes's 63.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Corbin Burnes, with 1,122 to Willie Foster's 1,062.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Corbin Burnes, with 1.08 to Willie Foster's 1.15.