Cole Hamels vs Adam Wainwright: Career Stats Comparison
Cole Hamels (2006–2020) and Adam Wainwright (2005–present) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Cole Hamels compiled 163 wins and 2,560 strikeouts; Adam Wainwright put up 200 wins and 2,202 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Cole Hamels
Adam Wainwright
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 | Adam Wainwright |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 163 | 200 |
| Losses | 122 | 128 |
| Games | 423 | 478 |
| Games Started | 422 | 411 |
| Complete Games | 17 | 28 |
| Shutouts | 7 | 11 |
| Saves | 0 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | 2,560 | 2,202 |
| Walks | 767 | 736 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,424 | 2,577 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 310 | 233 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,698 | 2,668 |
| ERA | 3.43 | 3.53 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | 8.54 | 7.43 |
| BB/9 | 2.56 | 2.48 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Adam Wainwright outpaces Cole Hamels 44,617 to 32,591 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,479 vs 1,917 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)
Adam Wainwright — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cole Hamels leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Adam Wainwright owns wins. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cole Hamels. Note that PIV actually grades Adam Wainwright ahead, which means Cole Hamels's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.