Edwin Diaz vs Kerry Wood: Career Stats Comparison
Edwin Diaz and Kerry Wood are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Edwin Diaz has played 2016–present as a pitcher; Kerry Wood played 1998–2012 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 Kerry Wood (1998–2012) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Edwin Diaz has 30 wins and 867 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Kerry Wood finished with 86 wins and 1,582 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Edwin Diaz, with 3.03 to Kerry Wood's 3.67.
- Who won more games? Kerry Wood, with 86 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Kerry Wood, with 1,582 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP? Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Kerry Wood's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Kerry Wood, with 1,380.0 to Edwin Diaz's 538.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Kerry Wood, with 5 to Edwin Diaz's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Edwin Diaz, with 21,805 career Pitcher PIV to Kerry Wood's 20,852.
Kerry Wood
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 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Edwin Diaz is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Edwin Diaz | Kerry Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 30 | Leads: 86 |
| Losses not scored | 38 | 75 |
| Games | Leads: 541 | 446 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 178 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 11 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 5 |
| Saves | Leads: 260 | 63 |
| Strikeouts | 867 | Leads: 1,582 |
| Walks not scored | 193 | 666 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 382 | 1,083 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 148 |
| Innings Pitched | 538.0 | Leads: 1,380.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.03 | 3.67 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.07 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.50 | 10.32 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.23 | 4.34 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Edwin Diaz edges Kerry Wood 21,805 to 20,852 — driven by per-season impact — 2,423 PIV per season to 1,390 — rather than by longevity, since Edwin Diaz played 9 seasons to Kerry Wood's 15. 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.
Kerry Wood — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Edwin Diaz leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Kerry Wood owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Edwin Diaz. PIV agrees: Edwin Diaz 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 Kerry Wood careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Kerry Wood's ended in 2012, and Edwin Diaz debuted in 2016. With 541 games against 446 across 9 and 15 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 14.50 strikeouts and 3.23 walks for Edwin Diaz, 10.32 and 4.34 for Kerry Wood. Their roles differ: Edwin Diaz worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 541 games, 260 saves); Kerry Wood split time between starting and relief (178 starts in 446 games). Edwin Diaz allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.07 WHIP to Kerry Wood's 1.27. Edwin Diaz has no qualifying season for the peak list, while Kerry Wood's best is 2003. Edwin Diaz's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Edwin Diaz vs Kerry Wood: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Edwin Diaz, with 3.03 to Kerry Wood's 3.67.
- Who won more games?
- Kerry Wood, with 86 to Edwin Diaz's 30.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Kerry Wood, with 1,582 to Edwin Diaz's 867.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Edwin Diaz, with 1.07 to Kerry Wood's 1.27.