Gerrit Cole vs Tim Lincecum: Career Stats Comparison
Gerrit Cole (2013–present) and Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Gerrit Cole compiled 153 wins and 2,251 strikeouts; Tim Lincecum put up 110 wins and 1,736 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Gerrit Cole
Tim Lincecum
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 | Gerrit Cole | Tim Lincecum |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 153 | 110 |
| Losses | 80 | 89 |
| Games | 317 | 278 |
| Games Started | 317 | 270 |
| Complete Games | 8 | 10 |
| Shutouts | 5 | 7 |
| Saves | 0 | 1 |
| Strikeouts | 2,251 | 1,736 |
| Walks | 500 | 669 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,627 | 1,506 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 217 | 147 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,954 | 1,682 |
| ERA | 3.18 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | 1.09 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | 10.37 | 9.29 |
| BB/9 | 2.30 | 3.58 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Gerrit Cole outpaces Tim Lincecum 50,909 to 28,769 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (4,242 vs 2,877 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).
Gerrit Cole — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tim Lincecum — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Gerrit Cole leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Tim Lincecum owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Gerrit Cole. PIV agrees: Gerrit Cole grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.