Yu Darvish vs Zack Wheeler: Career Stats Comparison
Zack Wheeler has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Yu Darvish played 2012–2025 as a pitcher; Zack Wheeler has played 2013–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
Yu Darvish (2012–2025) and Zack Wheeler (2013–present) — both came up during the 2010s, so the matchup is a direct one. Yu Darvish finished with 115 wins and 2,075 strikeouts; Zack Wheeler has 127 wins and 2,013 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Zack Wheeler, with 3.26 to Yu Darvish's 3.65.
- Who won more games? Zack Wheeler, with 127 to Yu Darvish's 115.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Yu Darvish, with 2,075 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP? Zack Wheeler, with 1.13 to Yu Darvish's 1.14.
- Who pitched more innings? Zack Wheeler, with 1,890.1 to Yu Darvish's 1,778.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Zack Wheeler, with 3 to Yu Darvish's 1.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Zack Wheeler, with 39,270 career Pitcher PIV to Yu Darvish's 25,371.
Yu Darvish
Zack Wheeler
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Zack Wheeler is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Yu Darvish | Zack Wheeler |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 115 | Leads: 127 |
| Losses not scored | 93 | 80 |
| Games | 297 | Leads: 311 |
| Games Started | 297 | Leads: 311 |
| Complete Games | 2 | Leads: 5 |
| Shutouts | 1 | Leads: 3 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,075 | 2,013 |
| Walks not scored | 563 | 537 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,460 | 1,598 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 231 | 187 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,778.0 | Leads: 1,890.1 |
| ERA | 3.65 | Leads: 3.26 |
| WHIP | 1.14 | Leads: 1.13 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.50 | 9.58 |
| BB/9 | 2.85 | Leads: 2.56 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Zack Wheeler outpaces Yu Darvish 39,270 to 25,371 — driven by per-season impact — 3,570 PIV per season to 1,812 — rather than by longevity, since Zack Wheeler played 11 seasons to Yu Darvish's 14. 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).
Yu Darvish — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Zack Wheeler — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Zack Wheeler leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Yu Darvish owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Zack Wheeler. PIV agrees: Zack Wheeler grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Yu Darvish and Zack Wheeler careers compare
Yu Darvish and Zack Wheeler were active at the same time between 2013 and 2025. With 297 games against 311 across 14 and 11 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Yu Darvish's edges on the table are strikeouts (2,075 to 2,013) and strikeouts per nine (10.50 to 9.58). The per-nine rows read 10.50 strikeouts and 2.85 walks for Yu Darvish, 9.58 and 2.56 for Zack Wheeler. Yu Darvish was mainly a starter (297 starts in 297 games), and Zack Wheeler was mainly a starter (311 starts in 311 games). Zack Wheeler allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.13 WHIP to Yu Darvish's 1.14. Zack Wheeler's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Yu Darvish vs Zack Wheeler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Yu Darvish or Zack Wheeler?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Zack Wheeler leads Yu Darvish in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Zack Wheeler, with 3.26 to Yu Darvish's 3.65.
- Who won more games?
- Zack Wheeler, with 127 to Yu Darvish's 115.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Yu Darvish, with 2,075 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Zack Wheeler, with 1.13 to Yu Darvish's 1.14.