Steve Carlton vs Pedro Martinez: Career Stats Comparison
Steve Carlton has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Steve Carlton played 1965–1988 as a pitcher; Pedro Martinez played 1992–2009 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
Steve Carlton (1965–1988) and Pedro Martinez (1992–2009) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Steve Carlton finished with 329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts; Pedro Martinez finished with 219 wins and 3,154 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Pedro Martinez, with 2.93 to Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games? Steve Carlton, with 329 to Pedro Martinez's 219.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Pedro Martinez's 3,154.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pedro Martinez, with 1.05 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Carlton, with 5,217.1 to Pedro Martinez's 2,827.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Steve Carlton, with 55 to Pedro Martinez's 17.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pedro Martinez, with 113,314 career Pitcher PIV to Steve Carlton's 76,502.
Steve Carlton
Pedro Martinez
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 1960s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Steve Carlton | Pedro Martinez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 329 | 219 |
| Losses not scored | 244 | 100 |
| Games | Leads: 741 | 476 |
| Games Started | Leads: 709 | 409 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 254 | 46 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 55 | 17 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,136 | 3,154 |
| Walks not scored | 1,833 | 760 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,672 | 2,221 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 414 | 239 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,217.1 | 2,827.1 |
| ERA | 3.22 | Leads: 2.93 |
| WHIP | 1.25 | Leads: 1.05 |
| K/9 | 7.13 | Leads: 10.04 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.42 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pedro Martinez outpaces Steve Carlton 113,314 to 76,502 — driven by per-season impact — 6,295 PIV per season to 2,833 — rather than by longevity, since Pedro Martinez played 18 seasons to Steve Carlton's 27. 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).
Steve Carlton — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Pedro Martinez — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pedro Martinez leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Steve Carlton owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Pedro Martinez. PIV agrees: Pedro Martinez grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Steve Carlton and Pedro Martinez careers compare
Steve Carlton (1965–1988) was finished before Pedro Martinez (1992–2009) arrived, so they never shared a league. The table compares 741 games of Steve Carlton with 476 of Pedro Martinez across 27 and 18 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. By rate, Steve Carlton struck out 7.13 and walked 3.16 per nine innings; Pedro Martinez struck out 10.04 and walked 2.42. Both had the same role: Steve Carlton was mainly a starter (709 starts in 741 games); Pedro Martinez was mainly a starter (409 starts in 476 games). The complete-game row, 254 against 46, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games.
Steve Carlton vs Pedro Martinez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Carlton or Pedro Martinez?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Steve Carlton leads Pedro Martinez in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pedro Martinez, with 2.93 to Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Carlton, with 329 to Pedro Martinez's 219.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Pedro Martinez's 3,154.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pedro Martinez, with 1.05 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.