Max Fried vs Sonny Gray: Career Stats Comparison
Sonny Gray 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). Max Fried has played 2017–present as a pitcher; Sonny Gray has played 2013–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
Max Fried (2017–present) and Sonny Gray (2013–present) — both came up during the 2010s, so the matchup is a direct one. Max Fried has 97 wins and 1,156 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Sonny Gray has 143 wins and 2,074 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Max Fried, with 3.01 to Sonny Gray's 3.51.
- Who won more games? Sonny Gray, with 143 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Sonny Gray, with 2,074 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Fried, with 1.14 to Sonny Gray's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Sonny Gray, with 2,087.0 to Max Fried's 1,192.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Sonny Gray, with 5 to Max Fried's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Sonny Gray, with 31,195 career Pitcher PIV to Max Fried's 26,852.
Max Fried
Sonny Gray
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.
Max Fried and Sonny Gray are still active — their totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Max Fried | Sonny Gray |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 97 | Leads: 143 |
| Losses not scored | 46 | 107 |
| Games | 220 | Leads: 368 |
| Games Started | 203 | Leads: 359 |
| Complete Games | 6 | Leads: 7 |
| Shutouts | 4 | Leads: 5 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,156 | Leads: 2,074 |
| Walks not scored | 330 | 667 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,026 | 1,823 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 94 | 208 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,192.1 | Leads: 2,087.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.51 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.19 |
| K/9 | 8.73 | Leads: 8.94 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.49 | 2.88 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sonny Gray leads Max Fried 31,195 to 26,852 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Sonny Gray played 14 seasons to Max Fried's 9, while Max Fried carries the higher per-season figure (2,984 to 2,228). 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).
Max Fried — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Sonny Gray — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Sonny Gray leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Max Fried owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sonny Gray. PIV agrees: Sonny Gray grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Max Fried and Sonny Gray careers compare
The two careers overlap from 2017 on, with both players still active. The table compares 220 games of Max Fried with 368 of Sonny Gray across 9 and 14 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Where Max Fried comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.01 to 3.51), WHIP (1.14 to 1.19), and walks per nine (2.49 to 2.88). By rate, Max Fried struck out 8.73 and walked 2.49 per nine innings; Sonny Gray struck out 8.94 and walked 2.88. Both had the same role: Max Fried was mainly a starter (203 starts in 220 games); Sonny Gray was mainly a starter (359 starts in 368 games). Max Fried and Sonny Gray's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Max Fried vs Sonny Gray: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Fried or Sonny Gray?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Sonny Gray leads Max Fried in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Max Fried, with 3.01 to Sonny Gray's 3.51.
- Who won more games?
- Sonny Gray, with 143 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Sonny Gray, with 2,074 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Fried, with 1.14 to Sonny Gray's 1.19.