Felix Hernandez vs CC Sabathia: Career Stats Comparison
Felix Hernandez (2005–2019) and CC Sabathia (2001–2019) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Felix Hernandez compiled 169 wins and 2,524 strikeouts; CC Sabathia put up 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Felix Hernandez | CC Sabathia |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 169 | 251 |
| Losses | 136 | 161 |
| Games | 419 | 561 |
| Games Started | 418 | 560 |
| Complete Games | 25 | 38 |
| Shutouts | 11 | 12 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,524 | 3,093 |
| Walks | 805 | 1,099 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,487 | 3,404 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 264 | 382 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,729 | 3,577 |
| ERA | 3.42 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | 1.21 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | 8.32 | 7.78 |
| BB/9 | 2.65 | 2.76 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Felix Hernandez edges CC Sabathia 44,530 to 43,212 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,969 vs 2,161 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).
Felix Hernandez — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
CC Sabathia — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Felix Hernandez leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while CC Sabathia owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Felix Hernandez. PIV agrees: Felix Hernandez grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.