Edwin Diaz vs Craig Kimbrel: Career Stats Comparison
Craig Kimbrel has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Edwin Diaz has played 2016–present as a pitcher; Craig Kimbrel has played 2010–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
Edwin Diaz (2016–present) and Craig Kimbrel (2010–present) — both came up during the 2010s, so the matchup is a direct one. Edwin Diaz has 30 wins and 867 strikeouts through October 6, 2026; Craig Kimbrel has 57 wins and 1,322 strikeouts through October 6, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Craig Kimbrel, with 2.69 to Edwin Diaz's 3.03.
- Who won more games? Craig Kimbrel, with 57 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP? Craig Kimbrel, with 1.04 to Edwin Diaz's 1.07.
- Who pitched more innings? Craig Kimbrel, with 867.2 to Edwin Diaz's 538.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Craig Kimbrel, with 30,862 career Pitcher PIV to Edwin Diaz's 21,805.
Craig Kimbrel
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Edwin Diaz and Craig Kimbrel are still active — their totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Edwin Diaz | Craig Kimbrel |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 30 | Leads: 57 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 53 |
| Games | 541 | Leads: 897 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 260 | Leads: 441 |
| Strikeouts | 867 | Leads: 1,322 |
| Walks not scored | 193 | 368 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 382 | 532 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 79 |
| Innings Pitched | 538.0 | Leads: 867.2 |
| ERA | 3.03 | Leads: 2.69 |
| WHIP | 1.07 | Leads: 1.04 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.50 | 13.71 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.23 | 3.82 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Craig Kimbrel outpaces Edwin Diaz 30,862 to 21,805 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Craig Kimbrel played 18 seasons to Edwin Diaz's 9, while Edwin Diaz carries the higher per-season figure (2,423 to 1,715). 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).
Edwin Diaz
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Craig Kimbrel
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Craig Kimbrel leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Edwin Diaz owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Craig Kimbrel. PIV agrees: Craig Kimbrel grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Edwin Diaz and Craig Kimbrel careers compare
The two careers overlap from 2016 on, with both players still active. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Edwin Diaz has appeared in 541 games to Craig Kimbrel's 897. Where Edwin Diaz comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts per nine (14.50 to 13.71) and walks per nine (3.23 to 3.82). The per-nine rows read 14.50 strikeouts and 3.23 walks for Edwin Diaz, 13.71 and 3.82 for Craig Kimbrel. Both had the same role: Edwin Diaz worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 541 games, 260 saves); Craig Kimbrel worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 897 games, 441 saves). Because Edwin Diaz and Craig Kimbrel are still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Edwin Diaz vs Craig Kimbrel: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Edwin Diaz or Craig Kimbrel?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Craig Kimbrel leads Edwin Diaz in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 2.69 to Edwin Diaz's 3.03.
- Who won more games?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 57 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 1.04 to Edwin Diaz's 1.07.