Jacob deGrom vs Jim Kaat: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Kaat 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). Jacob deGrom has played 2014–present as a pitcher; Jim Kaat played 1959–1983 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
Jacob deGrom (2014–present) and Jim Kaat (1959–1983) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jacob deGrom has 107 wins and 2,052 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Jim Kaat finished with 283 wins and 2,461 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jacob deGrom, with 2.73 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Jim Kaat, with 283 to Jacob deGrom's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Jacob deGrom's 2,052.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jacob deGrom, with 1.00 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Jim Kaat, with 4,530.1 to Jacob deGrom's 1,702.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Kaat, with 31 to Jacob deGrom's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jacob deGrom, with 58,656 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Kaat's 26,792.
Jacob deGrom
Jim Kaat
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 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Jacob deGrom is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Jacob deGrom | Jim Kaat |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 107 | Leads: 283 |
| Losses not scored | 76 | 237 |
| Games | 279 | Leads: 898 |
| Games Started | 279 | Leads: 625 |
| Complete Games | 4 | Leads: 180 |
| Shutouts | 2 | Leads: 31 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 18 |
| Strikeouts | 2,052 | Leads: 2,461 |
| Walks not scored | 391 | 1,083 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,312 | 4,620 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 166 | 395 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,702.1 | Leads: 4,530.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.73 | 3.45 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.00 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.85 | 4.89 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.07 | 2.15 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jacob deGrom outpaces Jim Kaat 58,656 to 26,792 — driven by per-season impact — 4,888 PIV per season to 957 — rather than by longevity, since Jacob deGrom played 12 seasons to Jim Kaat's 28. 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).
Jacob deGrom — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Kaat — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jacob deGrom leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Jim Kaat owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jacob deGrom. PIV agrees: Jacob deGrom grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jacob deGrom and Jim Kaat careers compare
No season is shared: Jim Kaat played 1959–1983, Jacob deGrom 2014–present. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Jacob deGrom has appeared in 279 games to Jim Kaat's 898. Jacob deGrom's edges on the table are ERA (2.73 to 3.45), WHIP (1.00 to 1.26), and strikeouts per nine (10.85 to 4.89). By rate, Jacob deGrom struck out 10.85 and walked 2.07 per nine innings; Jim Kaat struck out 4.89 and walked 2.15. Their roles differ: Jacob deGrom was mainly a starter (279 starts in 279 games); Jim Kaat split time between starting and relief (625 starts in 898 games). Because Jacob deGrom is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Jacob deGrom vs Jim Kaat: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jacob deGrom or Jim Kaat?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Kaat leads Jacob deGrom in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jacob deGrom, with 2.73 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Kaat, with 283 to Jacob deGrom's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Jacob deGrom's 2,052.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jacob deGrom, with 1.00 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.