Candy Cummings vs Paul Skenes: Career Stats Comparison
Candy Cummings has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Candy Cummings played 1872–1877 as a pitcher; Paul Skenes has played 2024–present 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
Candy Cummings (1872–1877) and Paul Skenes (2024–present) — breaking in during the 1870s and the 2020s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Candy Cummings finished with 145 wins and 259 strikeouts; Paul Skenes has 31 wins and 586 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Candy Cummings, with 2.42 to Paul Skenes's 2.62.
- Who won more games? Candy Cummings, with 145 to Paul Skenes's 31.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Paul Skenes, with 586 to Candy Cummings's 259.
- Who had the better WHIP? Paul Skenes, with 1.01 to Candy Cummings's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Candy Cummings, with 2,149.2 to Paul Skenes's 495.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Candy Cummings, with 19 to Paul Skenes's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Paul Skenes, with 14,331 career Pitcher PIV to Candy Cummings's 8,753.
Candy Cummings
Paul Skenes
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 1870s and the 2020s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Paul Skenes is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Candy Cummings | Paul Skenes |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 145 | 31 |
| Losses not scored | 94 | 24 |
| Games | Leads: 242 | 87 |
| Games Started | Leads: 241 | 87 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 233 | 1 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 19 | 0 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 259 | Leads: 586 |
| Walks not scored | 113 | 123 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,526 | 376 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 12 | 41 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,149.2 | 495.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.42 | 2.62 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.01 |
| K/9 | 1.08 | Leads: 10.65 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 0.47 | 2.24 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Skenes outpaces Candy Cummings 14,331 to 8,753 — driven by per-season impact — 7,166 PIV per season to 1,459 — rather than by longevity, since Paul Skenes played 2 seasons to Candy Cummings's 6. 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).
Candy Cummings — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Paul Skenes — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Skenes leads in strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Candy Cummings owns wins, ERA, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Skenes. PIV agrees: Paul Skenes grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Candy Cummings and Paul Skenes careers compare
No season is shared: Candy Cummings played 1872–1877, Paul Skenes 2024–present. Candy Cummings has the far longer record, 242 games against 87 across 6 and 2 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Paul Skenes comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts (586 to 259), WHIP (1.01 to 1.23), and strikeouts per nine (10.65 to 1.08). By rate, Candy Cummings struck out 1.08 and walked 0.47 per nine innings; Paul Skenes struck out 10.65 and walked 2.24. Candy Cummings was mainly a starter (241 starts in 242 games), and Paul Skenes was mainly a starter (87 starts in 87 games). Paul Skenes's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Candy Cummings vs Paul Skenes: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Candy Cummings or Paul Skenes?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Candy Cummings leads Paul Skenes in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Candy Cummings, with 2.42 to Paul Skenes's 2.62.
- Who won more games?
- Candy Cummings, with 145 to Paul Skenes's 31.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Paul Skenes, with 586 to Candy Cummings's 259.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Paul Skenes, with 1.01 to Candy Cummings's 1.23.