Zack Greinke vs Tim Hudson: Career Stats Comparison
Zack Greinke 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). Zack Greinke played 2004–2023 as a pitcher; Tim Hudson played 1999–2015 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
Zack Greinke (2004–2023) and Tim Hudson (1999–2015) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Zack Greinke finished with 225 wins and 2,979 strikeouts; Tim Hudson finished with 222 wins and 2,080 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Neither — both are at 3.49.
- Who won more games? Zack Greinke, with 225 to Tim Hudson's 222.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Zack Greinke, with 2,979 to Tim Hudson's 2,080.
- Who had the better WHIP? Zack Greinke, with 1.17 to Tim Hudson's 1.24.
- Who pitched more innings? Zack Greinke, with 3,389.1 to Tim Hudson's 3,126.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tim Hudson, with 13 to Zack Greinke's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Zack Greinke, with 58,246 career Pitcher PIV to Tim Hudson's 40,402.
Zack Greinke
Tim Hudson
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 2000s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Zack Greinke | Tim Hudson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 225 | 222 |
| Losses not scored | 156 | 133 |
| Games | Leads: 586 | 482 |
| Games Started | Leads: 541 | 479 |
| Complete Games | 17 | Leads: 26 |
| Shutouts | 5 | Leads: 13 |
| Saves | Leads: 1 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,979 | 2,080 |
| Walks not scored | 762 | 917 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,207 | 2,957 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 367 | 248 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,389.1 | 3,126.2 |
| ERA | 3.49 | Leads: 3.49 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.17 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.91 | 5.99 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.02 | 2.64 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Zack Greinke outpaces Tim Hudson 58,246 to 40,402 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,648 PIV per season to 2,377, across 22 seasons to 17. 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).
Zack Greinke — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tim Hudson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Zack Greinke leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Tim Hudson owns ERA. 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.
Related Matchups
How the Zack Greinke and Tim Hudson careers compare
From 2004 through 2015, Zack Greinke and Tim Hudson were in the majors together. With 586 games against 482 across 22 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Tim Hudson comes out ahead, it is in complete games (26 to 17), shutouts (13 to 5), and ERA (3.49 to 3.49). By rate, Zack Greinke struck out 7.91 and walked 2.02 per nine innings; Tim Hudson struck out 5.99 and walked 2.64. Zack Greinke was mainly a starter (541 starts in 586 games), and Tim Hudson was mainly a starter (479 starts in 482 games). Zack Greinke allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.17 WHIP to Tim Hudson's 1.24.
Zack Greinke vs Tim Hudson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Zack Greinke or Tim Hudson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Zack Greinke leads Tim Hudson in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Neither — both are at 3.49.
- Who won more games?
- Zack Greinke, with 225 to Tim Hudson's 222.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Zack Greinke, with 2,979 to Tim Hudson's 2,080.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Zack Greinke, with 1.17 to Tim Hudson's 1.24.