Felix Hernandez vs CC Sabathia: Career Stats Comparison
Felix Hernandez and CC Sabathia are close to even, splitting the 8 scored categories on this page 4–4 (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Felix Hernandez played 2005–2019 as a pitcher; CC Sabathia played 2001–2019 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
Felix Hernandez (2005–2019) and CC Sabathia (2001–2019) — both debuted in the 2000s. Felix Hernandez finished with 169 wins and 2,524 strikeouts; CC Sabathia finished with 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Neither — they split the 8 scored categories 4–4.
- Who had the better ERA? Felix Hernandez, with 3.42 to CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games? CC Sabathia, with 251 to Felix Hernandez's 169.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Felix Hernandez's 2,524.
- Who had the better WHIP? Felix Hernandez, with 1.21 to CC Sabathia's 1.26.
- How many innings did each pitch? Felix Hernandez 2,729.2, CC Sabathia 3,577.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? CC Sabathia, with 12 to Felix Hernandez's 11.
Felix Hernandez
CC Sabathia
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. 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 | Felix Hernandez | CC Sabathia |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 169 | Leads: 251 |
| Losses not scored | 136 | 161 |
| Games not scored | 419 | 561 |
| Games Started not scored | 418 | 560 |
| Complete Games | 25 | Leads: 38 |
| Shutouts | 11 | Leads: 12 |
| Saves not scored | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,524 | Leads: 3,093 |
| Walks not scored | 805 | 1,099 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,487 | 3,404 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 264 | 382 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 2,729.2 | 3,577.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.42 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.21 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.32 | 7.78 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.65 | 2.76 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Felix Hernandez edges CC Sabathia 44,530 to 43,212 — driven by per-season impact — 2,969 PIV per season to 2,274 — rather than by longevity, since Felix Hernandez played 15 seasons to CC Sabathia's 19. 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).
Felix Hernandez — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
CC Sabathia — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Felix Hernandez and CC Sabathia split the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card 4-4. On the raw scoreboard neither has the edge. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Felix Hernandez higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Felix Hernandez and CC Sabathia careers compare
From 2005 through 2019, Felix Hernandez and CC Sabathia were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 419 games for Felix Hernandez and 561 for CC Sabathia across 15 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where CC Sabathia comes out ahead, it is in wins (251 to 169), complete games (38 to 25), and shutouts (12 to 11). By rate, Felix Hernandez struck out 8.32 and walked 2.65 per nine innings; CC Sabathia struck out 7.78 and walked 2.76. Felix Hernandez was mainly a starter (418 starts in 419 games), and CC Sabathia was mainly a starter (560 starts in 561 games).
Felix Hernandez vs CC Sabathia: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Felix Hernandez or CC Sabathia?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, neither leads: they split the 8 scored categories 4–4.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Felix Hernandez, with 3.42 to CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games?
- CC Sabathia, with 251 to Felix Hernandez's 169.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Felix Hernandez's 2,524.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Felix Hernandez, with 1.21 to CC Sabathia's 1.26.