Clayton Kershaw vs Greg Maddux: Career Stats Comparison
Clayton Kershaw (2008–present) and Greg Maddux (1986–2008) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Clayton Kershaw compiled 223 wins and 3,052 strikeouts; Greg Maddux put up 355 wins and 3,371 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Clayton Kershaw
Greg Maddux
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 | Clayton Kershaw | Greg Maddux |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 223 | 355 |
| Losses | 96 | 227 |
| Games | 455 | 744 |
| Games Started | 451 | 740 |
| Complete Games | 25 | 109 |
| Shutouts | 15 | 35 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 3,052 | 3,371 |
| Walks | 713 | 999 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,193 | 4,726 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 235 | 353 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,855 | 5,008 |
| ERA | 2.53 | 3.16 |
| WHIP | 1.02 | 1.14 |
| K/9 | 9.62 | 6.06 |
| BB/9 | 2.25 | 1.80 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Greg Maddux outpaces Clayton Kershaw 133,509 to 93,455 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (5,340 vs 5,192 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).
Clayton Kershaw — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Greg Maddux — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Greg Maddux leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Clayton Kershaw owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Greg Maddux. PIV agrees: Greg Maddux grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.