A. J. Burnett vs Felix Hernandez: Career Stats Comparison
A. J. Burnett (1999–2015) and Felix Hernandez (2005–2019) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. A. J. Burnett compiled 164 wins and 2,513 strikeouts; Felix Hernandez put up 169 wins and 2,524 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
A. J. Burnett
Felix Hernandez
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 | A. J. Burnett | Felix Hernandez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 164 | 169 |
| Losses | 157 | 136 |
| Games | 435 | 419 |
| Games Started | 430 | 418 |
| Complete Games | 24 | 25 |
| Shutouts | 10 | 11 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,513 | 2,524 |
| Walks | 1,100 | 805 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,519 | 2,487 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 263 | 264 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,731 | 2,729 |
| ERA | 3.99 | 3.42 |
| WHIP | 1.32 | 1.21 |
| K/9 | 8.28 | 8.32 |
| BB/9 | 3.62 | 2.65 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Felix Hernandez outpaces A. J. Burnett 44,530 to 24,537 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,969 vs 1,443 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).
A. J. Burnett — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Felix Hernandez — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Felix Hernandez leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while A. J. Burnett owns innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Felix Hernandez. PIV agrees: Felix Hernandez grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.