Jacob deGrom vs Phil Niekro: Career Stats Comparison
Phil Niekro 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; Phil Niekro played 1964–1987 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 Phil Niekro (1964–1987) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jacob deGrom has 107 wins and 2,052 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Phil Niekro finished with 318 wins and 3,342 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 Phil Niekro's 3.35.
- Who won more games? Phil Niekro, with 318 to Jacob deGrom's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Phil Niekro, with 3,342 to Jacob deGrom's 2,052.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jacob deGrom, with 1.00 to Phil Niekro's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Phil Niekro, with 5,404.1 to Jacob deGrom's 1,702.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Phil Niekro, with 45 to Jacob deGrom's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jacob deGrom, with 58,656 career Pitcher PIV to Phil Niekro's 13,102.
Jacob deGrom
Phil Niekro
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 1960s 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 | Phil Niekro |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 107 | Leads: 318 |
| Losses not scored | 76 | 274 |
| Games | 279 | Leads: 864 |
| Games Started | 279 | Leads: 716 |
| Complete Games | 4 | Leads: 245 |
| Shutouts | 2 | Leads: 45 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 29 |
| Strikeouts | 2,052 | Leads: 3,342 |
| Walks not scored | 391 | 1,809 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,312 | 5,044 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 166 | 482 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,702.1 | Leads: 5,404.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.73 | 3.35 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.00 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.85 | 5.57 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.07 | 3.01 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jacob deGrom outpaces Phil Niekro 58,656 to 13,102 — driven by per-season impact — 4,888 PIV per season to 504 — rather than by longevity, since Jacob deGrom played 12 seasons to Phil Niekro's 26. 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)
Phil Niekro — 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 Phil Niekro 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 Phil Niekro careers compare
Phil Niekro (1964–1987) was finished before Jacob deGrom (2014–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Phil Niekro has the far longer record, 864 games against 279 across 12 and 26 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Jacob deGrom comes out ahead, it is in ERA (2.73 to 3.35), WHIP (1.00 to 1.27), and strikeouts per nine (10.85 to 5.57). The per-nine rows read 10.85 strikeouts and 2.07 walks for Jacob deGrom, 5.57 and 3.01 for Phil Niekro. Both had the same role: Jacob deGrom was mainly a starter (279 starts in 279 games); Phil Niekro was mainly a starter (716 starts in 864 games). Because Jacob deGrom is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Jacob deGrom vs Phil Niekro: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jacob deGrom or Phil Niekro?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Phil Niekro leads Jacob deGrom in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jacob deGrom, with 2.73 to Phil Niekro's 3.35.
- Who won more games?
- Phil Niekro, with 318 to Jacob deGrom's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Phil Niekro, with 3,342 to Jacob deGrom's 2,052.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jacob deGrom, with 1.00 to Phil Niekro's 1.27.