Corbin Burnes vs Jim Kaat: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Kaat 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). Corbin Burnes has played 2018–present as a pitcher; Jim Kaat played 1959–1983 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 Jim Kaat (1959–1983) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Corbin Burnes has 63 wins and 1,122 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Jim Kaat finished with 283 wins and 2,461 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Corbin Burnes, with 3.20 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Jim Kaat, with 283 to Corbin Burnes's 63.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Corbin Burnes's 1,122.
- Who had the better WHIP? Corbin Burnes, with 1.08 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Jim Kaat, with 4,530.1 to Corbin Burnes's 978.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Kaat, with 31 to Corbin Burnes's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jim Kaat, with 26,792 career Pitcher PIV to Corbin Burnes's 23,443.
Corbin Burnes
Jim Kaat
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, and the 2010s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, 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 | Jim Kaat |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 63 | Leads: 283 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 237 |
| Games | 213 | Leads: 898 |
| Games Started | 152 | Leads: 625 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 180 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 31 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 18 |
| Strikeouts | 1,122 | Leads: 2,461 |
| Walks not scored | 284 | 1,083 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 768 | 4,620 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 109 | 395 |
| Innings Pitched | 978.1 | Leads: 4,530.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.20 | 3.45 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.08 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.32 | 4.89 |
| BB/9 | 2.61 | Leads: 2.15 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Kaat leads Corbin Burnes 26,792 to 23,443 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jim Kaat played 28 seasons to Corbin Burnes's 8, while Corbin Burnes carries the higher per-season figure (2,930 to 957). 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)
Jim Kaat — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jim Kaat leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Corbin Burnes owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Kaat. PIV agrees: Jim Kaat 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 Jim Kaat careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Jim Kaat's ended in 1983, and Corbin Burnes debuted in 2018. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Corbin Burnes has appeared in 213 games to Jim Kaat's 898. Where Corbin Burnes comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.20 to 3.45), WHIP (1.08 to 1.26), and strikeouts per nine (10.32 to 4.89). The per-nine rows read 10.32 strikeouts and 2.61 walks for Corbin Burnes, 4.89 and 2.15 for Jim Kaat. Their roles differ: Corbin Burnes was mainly a starter (152 starts in 213 games); Jim Kaat split time between starting and relief (625 starts in 898 games). Because Corbin Burnes is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Corbin Burnes vs Jim Kaat: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Corbin Burnes or Jim Kaat?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Kaat leads Corbin Burnes in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Corbin Burnes, with 3.20 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Kaat, with 283 to Corbin Burnes's 63.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Corbin Burnes's 1,122.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Corbin Burnes, with 1.08 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.