Jacob deGrom vs Clayton Kershaw: Career Stats Comparison
Clayton Kershaw has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 11 statistical categories compared on this page. Jacob deGrom has played 2014–present as a pitcher; Clayton Kershaw has played 2008–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
Jacob deGrom (2014–present) and Clayton Kershaw (2008–present) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jacob deGrom compiled 96 wins and 1,851 strikeouts; Clayton Kershaw put up 223 wins and 3,052 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Jacob deGrom's 2.57.
- Who won more games? Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Jacob deGrom's 96.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Jacob deGrom's 1,851.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jacob deGrom, with 0.99 to Clayton Kershaw's 1.02.
- Who pitched more innings? Clayton Kershaw, with 2,855 to Jacob deGrom's 1,539.
- Who threw more shutouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 15 to Jacob deGrom's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Clayton Kershaw, with 93,455 career Pitcher PIV to Jacob deGrom's 58,656.
Jacob deGrom
Clayton Kershaw
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Jacob deGrom | Clayton Kershaw |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 96 | Leads: 223 |
| Losses | 65 | 96 |
| Games | 248 | Leads: 455 |
| Games Started | 248 | Leads: 451 |
| Complete Games | 4 | Leads: 25 |
| Shutouts | 2 | Leads: 15 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,851 | Leads: 3,052 |
| Walks | 345 | 713 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,173 | 2,193 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 146 | 235 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,539 | Leads: 2,855 |
| ERA | 2.57 | Leads: 2.53 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.99 | 1.02 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.82 | 9.62 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.02 | 2.25 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Clayton Kershaw outpaces Jacob deGrom 93,455 to 58,656 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (5,192 vs 4,888 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).
Jacob deGrom — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Clayton Kershaw — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Clayton Kershaw leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Jacob deGrom owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Clayton Kershaw. PIV agrees: Clayton Kershaw grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Jacob deGrom vs Clayton Kershaw: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jacob deGrom or Clayton Kershaw?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Clayton Kershaw leads Jacob deGrom in 8 of 11 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Jacob deGrom's 2.57.
- Who won more games?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Jacob deGrom's 96.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Jacob deGrom's 1,851.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jacob deGrom, with 0.99 to Clayton Kershaw's 1.02.