A. J. Burnett vs Jon Lester: Career Stats Comparison
A. J. Burnett (1999–2015) and Jon Lester (2006–2021) — 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; Jon Lester put up 200 wins and 2,488 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
A. J. Burnett
Jon Lester
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 | Jon Lester |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 164 | 200 |
| Losses | 157 | 117 |
| Games | 435 | 452 |
| Games Started | 430 | 451 |
| Complete Games | 24 | 15 |
| Shutouts | 10 | 4 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,513 | 2,488 |
| Walks | 1,100 | 892 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,519 | 2,610 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 263 | 294 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,731 | 2,740 |
| ERA | 3.99 | 3.66 |
| WHIP | 1.32 | 1.28 |
| K/9 | 8.28 | 8.17 |
| BB/9 | 3.62 | 2.93 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jon Lester edges A. J. Burnett 26,549 to 24,537 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,475 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)
Jon Lester — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jon Lester leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while A. J. Burnett owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jon Lester. PIV agrees: Jon Lester grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.