A. J. Burnett vs Adam Wainwright: Career Stats Comparison
A. J. Burnett (1999–2015) and Adam Wainwright (2005–present) — 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; Adam Wainwright put up 200 wins and 2,202 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
A. J. Burnett
Adam Wainwright
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 | Adam Wainwright |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 164 | 200 |
| Losses | 157 | 128 |
| Games | 435 | 478 |
| Games Started | 430 | 411 |
| Complete Games | 24 | 28 |
| Shutouts | 10 | 11 |
| Saves | 0 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | 2,513 | 2,202 |
| Walks | 1,100 | 736 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,519 | 2,577 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 263 | 233 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,731 | 2,668 |
| ERA | 3.99 | 3.53 |
| WHIP | 1.32 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | 8.28 | 7.43 |
| BB/9 | 3.62 | 2.48 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Adam Wainwright outpaces A. J. Burnett 44,617 to 24,537 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,479 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)
Adam Wainwright — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Adam Wainwright leads in wins, ERA, and WHIP, while A. J. Burnett owns strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Adam Wainwright. PIV agrees: Adam Wainwright grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.