Zack Greinke vs Cole Hamels: Career Stats Comparison
Zack Greinke (2004–present) and Cole Hamels (2006–2020) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Zack Greinke compiled 225 wins and 2,979 strikeouts; Cole Hamels put up 163 wins and 2,560 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Zack Greinke
Cole Hamels
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 | Zack Greinke | Cole Hamels |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 225 | 163 |
| Losses | 156 | 122 |
| Games | 586 | 423 |
| Games Started | 541 | 422 |
| Complete Games | 17 | 17 |
| Shutouts | 5 | 7 |
| Saves | 1 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,979 | 2,560 |
| Walks | 762 | 767 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,207 | 2,424 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 367 | 310 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,389 | 2,698 |
| ERA | 3.49 | 3.43 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | 7.91 | 8.54 |
| BB/9 | 2.02 | 2.56 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Zack Greinke outpaces Cole Hamels 58,246 to 32,591 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,648 vs 1,917 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).
Zack Greinke — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Cole Hamels — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Zack Greinke leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Cole Hamels owns ERA and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Zack Greinke. PIV agrees: Zack Greinke grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.