Cole Hamels vs Tim Lincecum: Career Stats Comparison
Cole Hamels (2006–2020) and Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Cole Hamels compiled 163 wins and 2,560 strikeouts; Tim Lincecum put up 110 wins and 1,736 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Cole Hamels | Tim Lincecum |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 163 | 110 |
| Losses | 122 | 89 |
| Games | 423 | 278 |
| Games Started | 422 | 270 |
| Complete Games | 17 | 10 |
| Shutouts | 7 | 7 |
| Saves | 0 | 1 |
| Strikeouts | 2,560 | 1,736 |
| Walks | 767 | 669 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,424 | 1,506 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 310 | 147 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,698 | 1,682 |
| ERA | 3.43 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | 8.54 | 9.29 |
| BB/9 | 2.56 | 3.58 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cole Hamels leads Tim Lincecum 32,591 to 28,769 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,917 vs 2,877 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).
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.