Cole Hamels vs Roy Oswalt: Career Stats Comparison
Cole Hamels has the better career line of the two, leading 6 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; Roy Oswalt played 2001–2013 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 Roy Oswalt (2001–2013) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Cole Hamels finished with 163 wins and 2,560 strikeouts; Roy Oswalt finished with 163 wins and 1,852 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Roy Oswalt, with 3.36 to Cole Hamels's 3.43.
- Who won more games? Neither — both are at 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Cole Hamels, with 2,560 to Roy Oswalt's 1,852.
- Who had the better WHIP? Cole Hamels, with 1.18 to Roy Oswalt's 1.21.
- Who pitched more innings? Cole Hamels, with 2,698.0 to Roy Oswalt's 2,245.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Roy Oswalt, with 8 to Cole Hamels's 7.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Roy Oswalt, with 55,095 career Pitcher PIV to Cole Hamels's 32,591.
Cole Hamels
Roy Oswalt
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 | Roy Oswalt |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 163 | 163 |
| Losses not scored | 122 | 102 |
| Games | Leads: 423 | 365 |
| Games Started | Leads: 422 | 341 |
| Complete Games | 17 | Leads: 20 |
| Shutouts | 7 | Leads: 8 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,560 | 1,852 |
| Walks not scored | 767 | 520 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,424 | 2,199 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 310 | 197 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,698.0 | 2,245.1 |
| ERA | 3.43 | Leads: 3.36 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.18 | 1.21 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.54 | 7.42 |
| BB/9 | 2.56 | Leads: 2.08 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Roy Oswalt outpaces Cole Hamels 55,095 to 32,591 — driven by per-season impact — 3,935 PIV per season to 1,917 — rather than by longevity, since Roy Oswalt played 14 seasons to Cole Hamels's 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)
Roy Oswalt — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cole Hamels leads in strikeouts, WHIP, K/9, and innings pitched, while Roy Oswalt owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cole Hamels. Note that PIV actually grades Roy Oswalt ahead, which means Cole Hamels's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt careers compare
From 2006 through 2013, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt were in the majors together. With 423 games against 365 across 17 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Roy Oswalt comes out ahead, it is in complete games (20 to 17), shutouts (8 to 7), and ERA (3.36 to 3.43). By rate, Cole Hamels struck out 8.54 and walked 2.56 per nine innings; Roy Oswalt struck out 7.42 and walked 2.08. Both had the same role: Cole Hamels was mainly a starter (422 starts in 423 games); Roy Oswalt was mainly a starter (341 starts in 365 games). In WHIP, Cole Hamels's 1.18 beats Roy Oswalt's 1.21.
Cole Hamels vs Roy Oswalt: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cole Hamels or Roy Oswalt?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cole Hamels leads Roy Oswalt in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Roy Oswalt, with 3.36 to Cole Hamels's 3.43.
- Who won more games?
- Neither — both are at 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Cole Hamels, with 2,560 to Roy Oswalt's 1,852.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Cole Hamels, with 1.18 to Roy Oswalt's 1.21.