Zack Greinke vs John Smoltz: Career Stats Comparison
John Smoltz 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). Zack Greinke played 2004–2023 as a pitcher; John Smoltz played 1988–2009 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 John Smoltz (1988–2009) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Zack Greinke finished with 225 wins and 2,979 strikeouts; John Smoltz finished with 213 wins and 3,084 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? John Smoltz, with 3.33 to Zack Greinke's 3.49.
- Who won more games? Zack Greinke, with 225 to John Smoltz's 213.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? John Smoltz, with 3,084 to Zack Greinke's 2,979.
- Who had the better WHIP? Zack Greinke, with 1.17 to John Smoltz's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? John Smoltz, with 3,473.0 to Zack Greinke's 3,389.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? John Smoltz, with 16 to Zack Greinke's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? John Smoltz, with 91,907 career Pitcher PIV to Zack Greinke's 58,246.
Zack Greinke
John Smoltz
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 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Zack Greinke | John Smoltz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 225 | 213 |
| Losses not scored | 156 | 155 |
| Games | 586 | Leads: 723 |
| Games Started | Leads: 541 | 481 |
| Complete Games | 17 | Leads: 53 |
| Shutouts | 5 | Leads: 16 |
| Saves | 1 | Leads: 154 |
| Strikeouts | 2,979 | Leads: 3,084 |
| Walks not scored | 762 | 1,010 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,207 | 3,074 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 367 | 288 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,389.1 | Leads: 3,473.0 |
| ERA | 3.49 | Leads: 3.33 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.17 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | 7.91 | Leads: 7.99 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.02 | 2.62 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), John Smoltz outpaces Zack Greinke 91,907 to 58,246 — driven by per-season impact — 4,178 PIV per season to 2,648 — rather than by longevity, since John Smoltz played 22 seasons to Zack Greinke's 22. 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)
John Smoltz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, John Smoltz leads in strikeouts, ERA, K/9, and innings pitched, while Zack Greinke owns wins and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to John Smoltz. PIV agrees: John Smoltz 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 John Smoltz careers compare
From 2004 through 2009, Zack Greinke and John Smoltz were in the majors together. With 586 games against 723 across 22 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Zack Greinke comes out ahead, it is in wins (225 to 213), starts (541 to 481), and WHIP (1.17 to 1.18). By rate, Zack Greinke struck out 7.91 and walked 2.02 per nine innings; John Smoltz struck out 7.99 and walked 2.62. Zack Greinke was mainly a starter (541 starts in 586 games), while John Smoltz split time between starting and relief (481 starts in 723 games).
Zack Greinke vs John Smoltz: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Zack Greinke or John Smoltz?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, John Smoltz leads Zack Greinke in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- John Smoltz, with 3.33 to Zack Greinke's 3.49.
- Who won more games?
- Zack Greinke, with 225 to John Smoltz's 213.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- John Smoltz, with 3,084 to Zack Greinke's 2,979.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Zack Greinke, with 1.17 to John Smoltz's 1.18.