Jacob deGrom vs Christy Mathewson: Career Stats Comparison
Christy Mathewson has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; Christy Mathewson played 1900–1916 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 Christy Mathewson (1900–1916) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1900s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jacob deGrom has 107 wins and 2,052 strikeouts through October 6, 2026; Christy Mathewson finished with 373 wins and 2,507 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Christy Mathewson, with 2.13 to Jacob deGrom's 2.73.
- Who won more games? Christy Mathewson, with 373 to Jacob deGrom's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Christy Mathewson, with 2,507 to Jacob deGrom's 2,052.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jacob deGrom, with 1.00 to Christy Mathewson's 1.06.
- Who pitched more innings? Christy Mathewson, with 4,788.2 to Jacob deGrom's 1,702.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Christy Mathewson, with 79 to Jacob deGrom's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Christy Mathewson, with 82,446 career Pitcher PIV to Jacob deGrom's 58,656.
Jacob deGrom
Christy Mathewson
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 1900s 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 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Jacob deGrom | Christy Mathewson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 107 | Leads: 373 |
| Losses not scored | 76 | 188 |
| Games | 279 | Leads: 636 |
| Games Started | 279 | Leads: 552 |
| Complete Games | 4 | Leads: 435 |
| Shutouts | 2 | Leads: 79 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 29 |
| Strikeouts | 2,052 | Leads: 2,507 |
| Walks not scored | 391 | 848 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,312 | 4,219 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 166 | 90 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,702.1 | Leads: 4,788.2 |
| ERA | 2.73 | Leads: 2.13 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.00 | 1.06 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.85 | 4.71 |
| BB/9 | 2.07 | Leads: 1.59 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Christy Mathewson outpaces Jacob deGrom 82,446 to 58,656 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Christy Mathewson played 18 seasons to Jacob deGrom's 12, while Jacob deGrom carries the higher per-season figure (4,888 to 4,580). 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)
Christy Mathewson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Christy Mathewson 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 Christy Mathewson. PIV agrees: Christy Mathewson 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 Christy Mathewson careers compare
No season is shared: Christy Mathewson played 1900–1916, Jacob deGrom 2014–present. The table compares 279 games of Jacob deGrom with 636 of Christy Mathewson across 12 and 18 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Jacob deGrom's edges on the table are WHIP (1.00 to 1.06) and strikeouts per nine (10.85 to 4.71). By rate, Jacob deGrom struck out 10.85 and walked 2.07 per nine innings; Christy Mathewson struck out 4.71 and walked 1.59. Jacob deGrom was mainly a starter (279 starts in 279 games), and Christy Mathewson was mainly a starter (552 starts in 636 games). The complete-game row, 4 against 435, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games. Because Jacob deGrom is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Jacob deGrom vs Christy Mathewson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jacob deGrom or Christy Mathewson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Christy Mathewson leads Jacob deGrom in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Christy Mathewson, with 2.13 to Jacob deGrom's 2.73.
- Who won more games?
- Christy Mathewson, with 373 to Jacob deGrom's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Christy Mathewson, with 2,507 to Jacob deGrom's 2,052.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jacob deGrom, with 1.00 to Christy Mathewson's 1.06.