Zack Greinke vs Clayton Kershaw: Career Stats Comparison
Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw are close to even, splitting the 12 statistical categories compared on this page 6–6. Zack Greinke has played 2004–present as a pitcher; Clayton Kershaw has played 2008–present 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–present) and Clayton Kershaw (2008–present) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Zack Greinke compiled 225 wins and 2,979 strikeouts; Clayton Kershaw put up 223 wins and 3,052 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Zack Greinke's 3.49.
- Who won more games? Zack Greinke, with 225 to Clayton Kershaw's 223.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Zack Greinke's 2,979.
- Who had the better WHIP? Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Zack Greinke's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Zack Greinke, with 3,389 to Clayton Kershaw's 2,855.
- Who threw more shutouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 15 to Zack Greinke's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Clayton Kershaw, with 93,455 career Pitcher PIV to Zack Greinke's 58,246.
Zack Greinke
Clayton Kershaw
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Zack Greinke | Clayton Kershaw |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 225 | 223 |
| Losses | 156 | 96 |
| Games | Leads: 586 | 455 |
| Games Started | Leads: 541 | 451 |
| Complete Games | 17 | Leads: 25 |
| Shutouts | 5 | Leads: 15 |
| Saves | Leads: 1 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,979 | Leads: 3,052 |
| Walks | 762 | 713 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,207 | 2,193 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 367 | 235 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,389 | 2,855 |
| ERA | 3.49 | Leads: 2.53 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.02 |
| K/9 | 7.91 | Leads: 9.62 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.02 | 2.25 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Clayton Kershaw outpaces Zack Greinke 93,455 to 58,246 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (5,192 vs 2,648 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)
Clayton Kershaw — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Clayton Kershaw leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Zack Greinke owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Clayton Kershaw. PIV agrees: Clayton Kershaw grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Zack Greinke vs Clayton Kershaw: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Zack Greinke's 3.49.
- Who won more games?
- Zack Greinke, with 225 to Clayton Kershaw's 223.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Zack Greinke's 2,979.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Zack Greinke's 1.17.