Aroldis Chapman vs Lee Smith: Career Stats Comparison
Lee Smith has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Aroldis Chapman has played 2010–present as a pitcher; Lee Smith played 1980–1997 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
Aroldis Chapman (2010–present) and Lee Smith (1980–1997) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Aroldis Chapman has 63 wins and 1,402 strikeouts through October 6, 2026; Lee Smith finished with 71 wins and 1,251 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Aroldis Chapman, with 2.48 to Lee Smith's 3.03.
- Who won more games? Lee Smith, with 71 to Aroldis Chapman's 63.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Aroldis Chapman, with 1,402 to Lee Smith's 1,251.
- Who had the better WHIP? Aroldis Chapman, with 1.08 to Lee Smith's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Lee Smith, with 1,289.1 to Aroldis Chapman's 873.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Aroldis Chapman, with 36,308 career Pitcher PIV to Lee Smith's 33,335.
Aroldis Chapman
Lee Smith
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 2010s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Aroldis Chapman is still active — his totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Aroldis Chapman | Lee Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 63 | Leads: 71 |
| Losses not scored | 52 | 92 |
| Games | 916 | Leads: 1,022 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 6 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 402 | Leads: 478 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,402 | 1,251 |
| Walks not scored | 431 | 486 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 510 | 1,133 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 89 |
| Innings Pitched | 873.0 | Leads: 1,289.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.48 | 3.03 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.08 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.45 | 8.73 |
| BB/9 | 4.44 | Leads: 3.39 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Aroldis Chapman leads Lee Smith 36,308 to 33,335 — driven by per-season impact — 2,017 PIV per season to 1,587 — rather than by longevity, since Aroldis Chapman played 18 seasons to Lee Smith's 21. 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).
Aroldis Chapman
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Lee Smith
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Aroldis Chapman leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Lee Smith owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Aroldis Chapman. PIV agrees: Aroldis Chapman grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Aroldis Chapman and Lee Smith careers compare
No season is shared: Lee Smith played 1980–1997, Aroldis Chapman 2010–present. With 916 games against 1,022 across 18 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Aroldis Chapman's edges on the table are strikeouts (1,402 to 1,251), ERA (2.48 to 3.03), and WHIP (1.08 to 1.26). By rate, Aroldis Chapman struck out 14.45 and walked 4.44 per nine innings; Lee Smith struck out 8.73 and walked 3.39. Both had the same role: Aroldis Chapman worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 916 games, 402 saves); Lee Smith worked mostly in relief (6 starts in 1,022 games, 478 saves). Aroldis Chapman allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.08 WHIP to Lee Smith's 1.26. Because Aroldis Chapman is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Aroldis Chapman vs Lee Smith: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Aroldis Chapman or Lee Smith?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lee Smith leads Aroldis Chapman in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Aroldis Chapman, with 2.48 to Lee Smith's 3.03.
- Who won more games?
- Lee Smith, with 71 to Aroldis Chapman's 63.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Aroldis Chapman, with 1,402 to Lee Smith's 1,251.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Aroldis Chapman, with 1.08 to Lee Smith's 1.26.