Randy Johnson vs David Wells: 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; 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
Randy Johnson (1988–2009) and David Wells (1987–2007) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 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? Randy Johnson, with 3.29 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games? Randy Johnson, with 303 to David Wells's 239.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to David Wells's 2,201.
- Who had the better WHIP? Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to David Wells's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Randy Johnson, with 4,135.1 to David Wells's 3,439.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Randy Johnson, with 37 to David Wells's 12.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Randy Johnson, with 122,530 career Pitcher PIV to David Wells's 31,301.
Randy Johnson
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Randy Johnson | David Wells |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 303 | 239 |
| Losses not scored | 166 | 157 |
| Games | 618 | Leads: 660 |
| Games Started | Leads: 603 | 489 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 100 | 54 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 37 | 12 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 13 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,875 | 2,201 |
| Walks not scored | 1,497 | 719 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,346 | 3,635 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 411 | 407 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,135.1 | 3,439.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.29 | 4.13 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.17 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.61 | 5.76 |
| BB/9 | 3.26 | Leads: 1.88 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson outpaces David Wells 122,530 to 31,301 — driven by per-season impact — 5,105 PIV per season to 1,304 — rather than by longevity, since Randy Johnson played 24 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).
Randy Johnson — 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, Randy Johnson leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while David Wells owns no headline categories. 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 David Wells careers compare
Randy Johnson and David Wells were active at the same time between 1988 and 2007. The two careers are close in length, 618 games for Randy Johnson and 660 for David Wells across 24 and 24 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where David Wells comes out ahead, it is in games (660 to 618), saves (13 to 2), and walks per nine (1.88 to 3.26). By rate, Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26 per nine innings; David Wells struck out 5.76 and walked 1.88.
Randy Johnson vs David Wells: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Randy Johnson or David Wells?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Randy Johnson leads David Wells in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Randy Johnson, with 3.29 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games?
- Randy Johnson, with 303 to David Wells's 239.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to David Wells's 2,201.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to David Wells's 1.27.