Zack Greinke vs Derek Lowe: Career Stats Comparison
Zack Greinke (2004–present) and Derek Lowe (1997–2013) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Zack Greinke compiled 225 wins and 2,979 strikeouts; Derek Lowe put up 176 wins and 1,722 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Zack Greinke
Derek Lowe
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 | Derek Lowe |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 225 | 176 |
| Losses | 156 | 157 |
| Games | 586 | 681 |
| Games Started | 541 | 377 |
| Complete Games | 17 | 10 |
| Shutouts | 5 | 4 |
| Saves | 1 | 86 |
| Strikeouts | 2,979 | 1,722 |
| Walks | 762 | 794 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,207 | 2,759 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 367 | 217 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,389 | 2,671 |
| ERA | 3.49 | 4.03 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | 1.33 |
| K/9 | 7.91 | 5.80 |
| BB/9 | 2.02 | 2.68 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Zack Greinke outpaces Derek Lowe 58,246 to 35,122 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,648 vs 1,849 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)
Derek Lowe — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Zack Greinke leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Derek Lowe owns no headline categories. 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.