Felix Hernandez vs Zack Wheeler: Career Stats Comparison
Felix Hernandez (2005–2019) and Zack Wheeler (2013–present) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Felix Hernandez compiled 169 wins and 2,524 strikeouts; Zack Wheeler put up 113 wins and 1,820 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Felix Hernandez
Zack Wheeler
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 | Zack Wheeler |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 169 | 113 |
| Losses | 136 | 75 |
| Games | 419 | 283 |
| Games Started | 418 | 283 |
| Complete Games | 25 | 5 |
| Shutouts | 11 | 3 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,524 | 1,820 |
| Walks | 805 | 490 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,487 | 1,475 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 264 | 166 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,729 | 1,728 |
| ERA | 3.42 | 3.28 |
| WHIP | 1.21 | 1.14 |
| K/9 | 8.32 | 9.48 |
| BB/9 | 2.65 | 2.55 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Felix Hernandez leads Zack Wheeler 44,530 to 39,270 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,969 vs 3,570 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)
Zack Wheeler — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Felix Hernandez leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Zack Wheeler owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. 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.