Cole Hamels vs Tim Lincecum: Career Stats Comparison
Cole Hamels 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). Cole Hamels played 2006–2020 as a pitcher; Tim Lincecum played 2007–2016 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 Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Cole Hamels finished with 163 wins and 2,560 strikeouts; Tim Lincecum finished with 110 wins and 1,736 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Cole Hamels, with 3.43 to Tim Lincecum's 3.74.
- Who won more games? Cole Hamels, with 163 to Tim Lincecum's 110.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Cole Hamels, with 2,560 to Tim Lincecum's 1,736.
- Who had the better WHIP? Cole Hamels, with 1.18 to Tim Lincecum's 1.29.
- Who pitched more innings? Cole Hamels, with 2,698.0 to Tim Lincecum's 1,682.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 7.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Cole Hamels, with 32,591 career Pitcher PIV to Tim Lincecum's 28,769.
Cole Hamels
Tim Lincecum
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 | Tim Lincecum |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 163 | 110 |
| Losses not scored | 122 | 89 |
| Games | Leads: 423 | 278 |
| Games Started | Leads: 422 | 270 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 17 | 10 |
| Shutouts | 7 | 7 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,560 | 1,736 |
| Walks not scored | 767 | 669 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,424 | 1,506 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 310 | 147 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,698.0 | 1,682.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.43 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.18 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | 8.54 | Leads: 9.29 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.56 | 3.58 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cole Hamels leads Tim Lincecum 32,591 to 28,769 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Cole Hamels played 17 seasons to Tim Lincecum's 10, while Tim Lincecum carries the higher per-season figure (2,877 to 1,917). 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)
Tim Lincecum — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cole Hamels leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Tim Lincecum owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cole Hamels. PIV agrees: Cole Hamels 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 Tim Lincecum careers compare
Cole Hamels and Tim Lincecum were active at the same time between 2007 and 2016. The table compares 423 games of Cole Hamels with 278 of Tim Lincecum across 17 and 10 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Where Tim Lincecum comes out ahead, it is in saves (1 to 0) and strikeouts per nine (9.29 to 8.54). By rate, Cole Hamels struck out 8.54 and walked 2.56 per nine innings; Tim Lincecum struck out 9.29 and walked 3.58. Cole Hamels was mainly a starter (422 starts in 423 games), and Tim Lincecum was mainly a starter (270 starts in 278 games). In WHIP, Cole Hamels's 1.18 beats Tim Lincecum's 1.29.
Cole Hamels vs Tim Lincecum: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cole Hamels or Tim Lincecum?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cole Hamels leads Tim Lincecum in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Cole Hamels, with 3.43 to Tim Lincecum's 3.74.
- Who won more games?
- Cole Hamels, with 163 to Tim Lincecum's 110.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Cole Hamels, with 2,560 to Tim Lincecum's 1,736.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Cole Hamels, with 1.18 to Tim Lincecum's 1.29.