Felix Hernandez vs Johan Santana: Career Stats Comparison
Felix Hernandez has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Felix Hernandez played 2005–2019 as a pitcher; Johan Santana played 2000–2012 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 Johan Santana (2000–2012) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Felix Hernandez finished with 169 wins and 2,524 strikeouts; Johan Santana finished with 139 wins and 1,988 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Johan Santana, with 3.20 to Felix Hernandez's 3.42.
- Who won more games? Felix Hernandez, with 169 to Johan Santana's 139.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Felix Hernandez, with 2,524 to Johan Santana's 1,988.
- Who had the better WHIP? Johan Santana, with 1.13 to Felix Hernandez's 1.21.
- Who pitched more innings? Felix Hernandez, with 2,729.2 to Johan Santana's 2,025.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Felix Hernandez, with 11 to Johan Santana's 10.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Johan Santana, with 48,732 career Pitcher PIV to Felix Hernandez's 44,530.
Felix Hernandez
Johan Santana
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 | Felix Hernandez | Johan Santana |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 169 | 139 |
| Losses not scored | 136 | 78 |
| Games | Leads: 419 | 360 |
| Games Started | Leads: 418 | 284 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 25 | 15 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 11 | 10 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,524 | 1,988 |
| Walks not scored | 805 | 567 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,487 | 1,726 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 264 | 220 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,729.2 | 2,025.2 |
| ERA | 3.42 | Leads: 3.20 |
| WHIP | 1.21 | Leads: 1.13 |
| K/9 | 8.32 | Leads: 8.83 |
| BB/9 | 2.65 | Leads: 2.52 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Johan Santana leads Felix Hernandez 48,732 to 44,530 — driven by per-season impact — 4,061 PIV per season to 2,969 — rather than by longevity, since Johan Santana played 12 seasons to Felix Hernandez's 15. 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).
Felix Hernandez — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Johan Santana — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Johan Santana leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Felix Hernandez owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Johan Santana. PIV agrees: Johan Santana grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Felix Hernandez and Johan Santana careers compare
From 2005 through 2012, Felix Hernandez and Johan Santana were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 419 games for Felix Hernandez and 360 for Johan Santana across 15 and 12 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The per-nine rows read 8.32 strikeouts and 2.65 walks for Felix Hernandez, 8.83 and 2.52 for Johan Santana. Both had the same role: Felix Hernandez was mainly a starter (418 starts in 419 games); Johan Santana was mainly a starter (284 starts in 360 games). Johan Santana allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.13 WHIP to Felix Hernandez's 1.21.
Felix Hernandez vs Johan Santana: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Felix Hernandez or Johan Santana?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Felix Hernandez leads Johan Santana in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Johan Santana, with 3.20 to Felix Hernandez's 3.42.
- Who won more games?
- Felix Hernandez, with 169 to Johan Santana's 139.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Felix Hernandez, with 2,524 to Johan Santana's 1,988.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Johan Santana, with 1.13 to Felix Hernandez's 1.21.