Tim Hudson vs David Wells: Career Stats Comparison
David Wells has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Tim Hudson played 1999–2015 as a pitcher; David Wells played 1987–2007 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
Tim Hudson (1999–2015) and David Wells (1987–2007) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Tim Hudson finished with 222 wins and 2,080 strikeouts; David Wells finished with 239 wins and 2,201 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Tim Hudson, with 3.49 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games? David Wells, with 239 to Tim Hudson's 222.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? David Wells, with 2,201 to Tim Hudson's 2,080.
- Who had the better WHIP? Tim Hudson, with 1.24 to David Wells's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? David Wells, with 3,439.0 to Tim Hudson's 3,126.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tim Hudson, with 13 to David Wells's 12.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Tim Hudson, with 40,402 career Pitcher PIV to David Wells's 31,301.
Tim Hudson
David Wells
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, and the 1990s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Tim Hudson | David Wells |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 222 | Leads: 239 |
| Losses not scored | 133 | 157 |
| Games | 482 | Leads: 660 |
| Games Started | 479 | Leads: 489 |
| Complete Games | 26 | Leads: 54 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 13 | 12 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 13 |
| Strikeouts | 2,080 | Leads: 2,201 |
| Walks not scored | 917 | 719 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,957 | 3,635 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 248 | 407 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,126.2 | Leads: 3,439.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.49 | 4.13 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.24 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.99 | 5.76 |
| BB/9 | 2.64 | Leads: 1.88 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tim Hudson leads David Wells 40,402 to 31,301 — driven by per-season impact — 2,377 PIV per season to 1,304 — rather than by longevity, since Tim Hudson played 17 seasons to David Wells's 24. 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).
Tim Hudson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
David Wells — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tim Hudson leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while David Wells owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tim Hudson. PIV agrees: Tim Hudson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Tim Hudson and David Wells careers compare
From 1999 through 2007, Tim Hudson and David Wells were in the majors together. With 482 games against 660 across 17 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Tim Hudson comes out ahead, it is in shutouts (13 to 12), ERA (3.49 to 4.13), and WHIP (1.24 to 1.27). By rate, Tim Hudson struck out 5.99 and walked 2.64 per nine innings; David Wells struck out 5.76 and walked 1.88. Both had the same role: Tim Hudson was mainly a starter (479 starts in 482 games); David Wells was mainly a starter (489 starts in 660 games). Tim Hudson allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.24 WHIP to David Wells's 1.27.
Tim Hudson vs David Wells: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Tim Hudson or David Wells?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, David Wells leads Tim Hudson in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Tim Hudson, with 3.49 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games?
- David Wells, with 239 to Tim Hudson's 222.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- David Wells, with 2,201 to Tim Hudson's 2,080.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Tim Hudson, with 1.24 to David Wells's 1.27.