Kevin Gausman vs Jon Lester: Career Stats Comparison
Kevin Gausman (2013–present) and Jon Lester (2006–2021) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Kevin Gausman compiled 112 wins and 1,954 strikeouts; Jon Lester put up 200 wins and 2,488 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Kevin Gausman
Jon Lester
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Kevin Gausman | Jon Lester |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 112 | 200 |
| Losses | 113 | 117 |
| Games | 361 | 452 |
| Games Started | 322 | 451 |
| Complete Games | 4 | 15 |
| Shutouts | 2 | 4 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,954 | 2,488 |
| Walks | 535 | 892 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,835 | 2,610 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 233 | 294 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,911 | 2,740 |
| ERA | 3.81 | 3.66 |
| WHIP | 1.24 | 1.28 |
| K/9 | 9.20 | 8.17 |
| BB/9 | 2.52 | 2.93 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kevin Gausman edges Jon Lester 28,075 to 26,549 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,872 vs 1,475 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Kevin Gausman — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jon Lester — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jon Lester leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Kevin Gausman owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jon Lester. Note that PIV actually grades Kevin Gausman ahead, which means Jon Lester's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.