Jacob deGrom vs Ed Walsh: Career Stats Comparison
Ed Walsh 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; Ed Walsh played 1904–1917 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 Ed Walsh (1904–1917) — 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 12, 2026; Ed Walsh finished with 195 wins and 1,736 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Ed Walsh, with 1.82 to Jacob deGrom's 2.73.
- Who won more games? Ed Walsh, with 195 to Jacob deGrom's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jacob deGrom, with 2,052 to Ed Walsh's 1,736.
- Who had the better WHIP? Neither — both are at 1.00.
- Who pitched more innings? Ed Walsh, with 2,964.1 to Jacob deGrom's 1,702.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Ed Walsh, with 57 to Jacob deGrom's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Ed Walsh, with 62,631 career Pitcher PIV to Jacob deGrom's 58,656.
Jacob deGrom
Ed Walsh
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 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Jacob deGrom | Ed Walsh |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 107 | Leads: 195 |
| Losses not scored | 76 | 126 |
| Games | 279 | Leads: 430 |
| Games Started | 279 | Leads: 315 |
| Complete Games | 4 | Leads: 250 |
| Shutouts | 2 | Leads: 57 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 35 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,052 | 1,736 |
| Walks not scored | 391 | 617 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,312 | 2,346 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 166 | 23 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,702.1 | Leads: 2,964.1 |
| ERA | 2.73 | Leads: 1.82 |
| WHIP | 1.00 | Leads: 1.00 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.85 | 5.27 |
| BB/9 | 2.07 | Leads: 1.87 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ed Walsh edges Jacob deGrom 62,631 to 58,656 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ed Walsh played 14 seasons to Jacob deGrom's 12, while Jacob deGrom carries the higher per-season figure (4,888 to 4,474). 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)
Ed Walsh — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ed Walsh leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Jacob deGrom owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ed Walsh. PIV agrees: Ed Walsh 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 Ed Walsh careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Ed Walsh's ended in 1917, and Jacob deGrom debuted in 2014. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Jacob deGrom has appeared in 279 games to Ed Walsh's 430. Jacob deGrom's edges on the table are strikeouts (2,052 to 1,736) and strikeouts per nine (10.85 to 5.27). By rate, Jacob deGrom struck out 10.85 and walked 2.07 per nine innings; Ed Walsh struck out 5.27 and walked 1.87. Both had the same role: Jacob deGrom was mainly a starter (279 starts in 279 games); Ed Walsh was mainly a starter (315 starts in 430 games). Because Jacob deGrom is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Jacob deGrom vs Ed Walsh: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jacob deGrom or Ed Walsh?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ed Walsh leads Jacob deGrom in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Ed Walsh, with 1.82 to Jacob deGrom's 2.73.
- Who won more games?
- Ed Walsh, with 195 to Jacob deGrom's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jacob deGrom, with 2,052 to Ed Walsh's 1,736.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Neither — both are at 1.00.