Cole Hamels vs Clayton Kershaw: Career Stats Comparison
Clayton Kershaw has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Cole Hamels played 2006–2020 as a pitcher; Clayton Kershaw played 2008–2025 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
Cole Hamels (2006–2020) and Clayton Kershaw (2008–2025) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Cole Hamels finished with 163 wins and 2,560 strikeouts; Clayton Kershaw finished with 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 Cole Hamels's 3.43.
- Who won more games? Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Cole Hamels's 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Cole Hamels's 2,560.
- Who had the better WHIP? Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Cole Hamels's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? Clayton Kershaw, with 2,855.1 to Cole Hamels's 2,698.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 15 to Cole Hamels's 7.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Clayton Kershaw, with 93,455 career Pitcher PIV to Cole Hamels's 32,591.
Cole Hamels
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. 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Cole Hamels | Clayton Kershaw |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 163 | Leads: 223 |
| Losses not scored | 122 | 96 |
| Games | 423 | Leads: 455 |
| Games Started | 422 | Leads: 451 |
| Complete Games | 17 | Leads: 25 |
| Shutouts | 7 | Leads: 15 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,560 | Leads: 3,052 |
| Walks not scored | 767 | 713 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,424 | 2,193 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 310 | 235 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,698.0 | Leads: 2,855.1 |
| ERA | 3.43 | Leads: 2.53 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | Leads: 1.02 |
| K/9 | 8.54 | Leads: 9.62 |
| BB/9 | 2.56 | Leads: 2.25 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Clayton Kershaw outpaces Cole Hamels 93,455 to 32,591 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,192 PIV per season to 1,917, across 18 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).
Cole Hamels — 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 wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Cole Hamels owns no headline categories. 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
How the Cole Hamels and Clayton Kershaw careers compare
From 2008 through 2020, Cole Hamels and Clayton Kershaw were in the majors together. With 423 games against 455 across 17 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Clayton Kershaw leads every scored row of the table. By rate, Cole Hamels struck out 8.54 and walked 2.56 per nine innings; Clayton Kershaw struck out 9.62 and walked 2.25. Both had the same role: Cole Hamels was mainly a starter (422 starts in 423 games); Clayton Kershaw was mainly a starter (451 starts in 455 games). In WHIP, Clayton Kershaw's 1.02 beats Cole Hamels's 1.18.
Cole Hamels vs Clayton Kershaw: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cole Hamels or Clayton Kershaw?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Clayton Kershaw leads Cole Hamels in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Cole Hamels's 3.43.
- Who won more games?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Cole Hamels's 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Cole Hamels's 2,560.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Cole Hamels's 1.18.