Steve Carlton vs Jon Matlack: Career Stats Comparison
Steve Carlton has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Steve Carlton played 1965–1988 as a pitcher; Jon Matlack played 1971–1983 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
Steve Carlton (1965–1988) and Jon Matlack (1971–1983) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Steve Carlton compiled 329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts; Jon Matlack put up 125 wins and 1,516 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jon Matlack, with 3.18 to Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games? Steve Carlton, with 329 to Jon Matlack's 125.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Jon Matlack's 1,516.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jon Matlack, with 1.23 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Carlton, with 5,217 to Jon Matlack's 2,363.
- Who threw more shutouts? Steve Carlton, with 55 to Jon Matlack's 30.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Steve Carlton, with 76,502 career Pitcher PIV to Jon Matlack's 38,811.
Steve Carlton
Jon Matlack
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Steve Carlton | Jon Matlack |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 329 | 125 |
| Losses | 244 | 126 |
| Games | Leads: 741 | 361 |
| Games Started | Leads: 709 | 318 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 254 | 97 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 55 | 30 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,136 | 1,516 |
| Walks | 1,833 | 638 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,672 | 2,276 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 414 | 161 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,217 | 2,363 |
| ERA | 3.22 | Leads: 3.18 |
| WHIP | 1.25 | Leads: 1.23 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.13 | 5.77 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.43 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Steve Carlton outpaces Jon Matlack 76,502 to 38,811 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,833 vs 2,985 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).
Steve Carlton — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jon Matlack — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Steve Carlton leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Jon Matlack owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Steve Carlton. PIV agrees: Steve Carlton grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Steve Carlton vs Jon Matlack: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Carlton or Jon Matlack?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Steve Carlton leads Jon Matlack in 8 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jon Matlack, with 3.18 to Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Carlton, with 329 to Jon Matlack's 125.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Jon Matlack's 1,516.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jon Matlack, with 1.23 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.