Clayton Kershaw vs Cliff Lee: Career Stats Comparison
Clayton Kershaw 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). Clayton Kershaw played 2008–2025 as a pitcher; Cliff Lee played 2002–2014 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
Clayton Kershaw (2008–2025) and Cliff Lee (2002–2014) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Clayton Kershaw finished with 223 wins and 3,052 strikeouts; Cliff Lee finished with 143 wins and 1,824 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 Cliff Lee's 3.52.
- Who won more games? Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Cliff Lee's 143.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Cliff Lee's 1,824.
- Who had the better WHIP? Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Cliff Lee's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Clayton Kershaw, with 2,855.1 to Cliff Lee's 2,156.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 15 to Cliff Lee's 12.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Clayton Kershaw, with 93,455 career Pitcher PIV to Cliff Lee's 41,719.
Clayton Kershaw
Cliff Lee
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 | Clayton Kershaw | Cliff Lee |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 223 | 143 |
| Losses not scored | 96 | 91 |
| Games | Leads: 455 | 328 |
| Games Started | Leads: 451 | 324 |
| Complete Games | 25 | Leads: 29 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 15 | 12 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,052 | 1,824 |
| Walks not scored | 713 | 464 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,193 | 2,116 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 235 | 223 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,855.1 | 2,156.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.53 | 3.52 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.02 | 1.20 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.62 | 7.61 |
| BB/9 | 2.25 | Leads: 1.94 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Clayton Kershaw outpaces Cliff Lee 93,455 to 41,719 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,192 PIV per season to 2,781, across 18 seasons to 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).
Clayton Kershaw — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Cliff Lee — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Clayton Kershaw leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Cliff Lee owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Clayton Kershaw. PIV agrees: Clayton Kershaw grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Clayton Kershaw and Cliff Lee careers compare
From 2008 through 2014, Clayton Kershaw and Cliff Lee were in the majors together. With 455 games against 328 across 18 and 15 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Cliff Lee comes out ahead, it is in complete games (29 to 25) and walks per nine (1.94 to 2.25). By rate, Clayton Kershaw struck out 9.62 and walked 2.25 per nine innings; Cliff Lee struck out 7.61 and walked 1.94. Both had the same role: Clayton Kershaw was mainly a starter (451 starts in 455 games); Cliff Lee was mainly a starter (324 starts in 328 games). In WHIP, Clayton Kershaw's 1.02 beats Cliff Lee's 1.20.
Clayton Kershaw vs Cliff Lee: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Clayton Kershaw or Cliff Lee?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Clayton Kershaw leads Cliff Lee in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Cliff Lee's 3.52.
- Who won more games?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Cliff Lee's 143.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Cliff Lee's 1,824.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Cliff Lee's 1.20.