Randy Johnson vs Clayton Kershaw: Career Stats Comparison
Randy Johnson has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 as a pitcher; Clayton Kershaw played 2008–2025 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
Randy Johnson (1988–2009) and Clayton Kershaw (2008–2025) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts; Clayton Kershaw finished with 223 wins and 3,052 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Randy Johnson, with 303 to Clayton Kershaw's 223.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Clayton Kershaw's 3,052.
- Who had the better WHIP? Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Randy Johnson's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Randy Johnson, with 4,135.1 to Clayton Kershaw's 2,855.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Randy Johnson, with 37 to Clayton Kershaw's 15.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Randy Johnson, with 122,530 career Pitcher PIV to Clayton Kershaw's 93,455.
Randy Johnson
Clayton Kershaw
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 1980s and the 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Randy Johnson | Clayton Kershaw |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 303 | 223 |
| Losses not scored | 166 | 96 |
| Games | Leads: 618 | 455 |
| Games Started | Leads: 603 | 451 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 100 | 25 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 37 | 15 |
| Saves | Leads: 2 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,875 | 3,052 |
| Walks not scored | 1,497 | 713 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,346 | 2,193 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 411 | 235 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,135.1 | 2,855.1 |
| ERA | 3.29 | Leads: 2.53 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.02 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.61 | 9.62 |
| BB/9 | 3.26 | Leads: 2.25 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson leads Clayton Kershaw 122,530 to 93,455 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Randy Johnson played 24 seasons to Clayton Kershaw's 18, while Clayton Kershaw carries the higher per-season figure (5,192 to 5,105). 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).
Randy Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Clayton Kershaw — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Randy Johnson leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Clayton Kershaw owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Randy Johnson. PIV agrees: Randy Johnson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw careers compare
Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw were active at the same time between 2008 and 2009. With 618 games against 455 across 24 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Clayton Kershaw comes out ahead, it is in ERA (2.53 to 3.29), WHIP (1.02 to 1.17), and walks per nine (2.25 to 3.26). By rate, Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26 per nine innings; Clayton Kershaw struck out 9.62 and walked 2.25. Randy Johnson was mainly a starter (603 starts in 618 games), and Clayton Kershaw was mainly a starter (451 starts in 455 games).
Randy Johnson vs Clayton Kershaw: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Randy Johnson or Clayton Kershaw?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Randy Johnson leads Clayton Kershaw in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Randy Johnson, with 303 to Clayton Kershaw's 223.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Clayton Kershaw's 3,052.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Randy Johnson's 1.17.