Sonny Gray vs Tim Lincecum: 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). Sonny Gray has played 2013–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
Sonny Gray (2013–present) and Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Sonny Gray has 143 wins and 2,074 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? Sonny Gray, with 3.51 to Tim Lincecum's 3.74.
- Who won more games? Sonny Gray, with 143 to Tim Lincecum's 110.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Sonny Gray, with 2,074 to Tim Lincecum's 1,736.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sonny Gray, with 1.19 to Tim Lincecum's 1.29.
- Who pitched more innings? Sonny Gray, with 2,087.0 to Tim Lincecum's 1,682.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tim Lincecum, with 7 to Sonny Gray's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Sonny Gray, with 31,195 career Pitcher PIV to Tim Lincecum's 28,769.
Sonny Gray
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.
Sonny Gray is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Sonny Gray | Tim Lincecum |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 143 | 110 |
| Losses not scored | 107 | 89 |
| Games | Leads: 368 | 278 |
| Games Started | Leads: 359 | 270 |
| Complete Games | 7 | Leads: 10 |
| Shutouts | 5 | Leads: 7 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,074 | 1,736 |
| Walks not scored | 667 | 669 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,823 | 1,506 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 208 | 147 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,087.0 | 1,682.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.51 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.19 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | 8.94 | Leads: 9.29 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.88 | 3.58 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sonny Gray edges Tim Lincecum 31,195 to 28,769 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Sonny Gray played 14 seasons to Tim Lincecum's 10, while Tim Lincecum carries the higher per-season figure (2,877 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).
Sonny Gray — 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, Sonny Gray leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Tim Lincecum owns K/9. 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 Sonny Gray and Tim Lincecum careers compare
Sonny Gray and Tim Lincecum were active at the same time between 2013 and 2016. With 368 games against 278 across 14 and 10 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Tim Lincecum are complete games (10 to 7), shutouts (7 to 5), and saves (1 to 0). By rate, Sonny Gray struck out 8.94 and walked 2.88 per nine innings; Tim Lincecum struck out 9.29 and walked 3.58. Sonny Gray was mainly a starter (359 starts in 368 games), and Tim Lincecum was mainly a starter (270 starts in 278 games). Sonny Gray allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.19 WHIP to Tim Lincecum's 1.29. Sonny Gray's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Sonny Gray vs Tim Lincecum: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Sonny Gray or Tim Lincecum?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Sonny Gray leads Tim Lincecum in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sonny Gray, with 3.51 to Tim Lincecum's 3.74.
- Who won more games?
- Sonny Gray, with 143 to Tim Lincecum's 110.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Sonny Gray, with 2,074 to Tim Lincecum's 1,736.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sonny Gray, with 1.19 to Tim Lincecum's 1.29.