Max Fried vs Tim Lincecum: Career Stats Comparison
Tim Lincecum has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Tim Lincecum played 2007–2016 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 Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Max Fried has 97 wins and 1,156 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Tim Lincecum finished with 110 wins and 1,736 strikeouts. 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 Tim Lincecum's 3.74.
- Who won more games? Tim Lincecum, with 110 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tim Lincecum, with 1,736 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Fried, with 1.14 to Tim Lincecum's 1.29.
- Who pitched more innings? Tim Lincecum, with 1,682.0 to Max Fried's 1,192.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tim Lincecum, with 7 to Max Fried's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Tim Lincecum, with 28,769 career Pitcher PIV to Max Fried's 26,852.
Max Fried
Tim Lincecum
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 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Max Fried is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Max Fried | Tim Lincecum |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 97 | Leads: 110 |
| Losses not scored | 46 | 89 |
| Games | 220 | Leads: 278 |
| Games Started | 203 | Leads: 270 |
| Complete Games | 6 | Leads: 10 |
| Shutouts | 4 | Leads: 7 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Strikeouts | 1,156 | Leads: 1,736 |
| Walks not scored | 330 | 669 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,026 | 1,506 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 94 | 147 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,192.1 | Leads: 1,682.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | 8.73 | Leads: 9.29 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.49 | 3.58 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tim Lincecum edges Max Fried 28,769 to 26,852 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Tim Lincecum played 10 seasons to Max Fried's 9, while Max Fried carries the higher per-season figure (2,984 to 2,877). 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)
Tim Lincecum — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tim Lincecum 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 Tim Lincecum. PIV agrees: Tim Lincecum 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 Tim Lincecum careers compare
Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) was finished before Max Fried (2017–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. The two careers are close in length, 220 games for Max Fried and 278 for Tim Lincecum across 9 and 10 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Max Fried's edges on the table are ERA (3.01 to 3.74), WHIP (1.14 to 1.29), and walks per nine (2.49 to 3.58). By rate, Max Fried struck out 8.73 and walked 2.49 per nine innings; Tim Lincecum struck out 9.29 and walked 3.58. Max Fried's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Max Fried vs Tim Lincecum: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Fried or Tim Lincecum?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tim Lincecum leads Max Fried in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Max Fried, with 3.01 to Tim Lincecum's 3.74.
- Who won more games?
- Tim Lincecum, with 110 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tim Lincecum, with 1,736 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Fried, with 1.14 to Tim Lincecum's 1.29.