Clayton Kershaw vs Pedro Martinez: Career Stats Comparison
Clayton Kershaw and Pedro Martinez are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Clayton Kershaw played 2008–2025 as a pitcher; Pedro Martinez played 1992–2009 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 Pedro Martinez (1992–2009) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Clayton Kershaw finished with 223 wins and 3,052 strikeouts; Pedro Martinez finished with 219 wins and 3,154 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 Pedro Martinez's 2.93.
- Who won more games? Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Pedro Martinez's 219.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Pedro Martinez, with 3,154 to Clayton Kershaw's 3,052.
- Who had the better WHIP? Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Pedro Martinez's 1.05.
- Who pitched more innings? Clayton Kershaw, with 2,855.1 to Pedro Martinez's 2,827.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pedro Martinez, with 17 to Clayton Kershaw's 15.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pedro Martinez, with 113,314 career Pitcher PIV to Clayton Kershaw's 93,455.
Clayton Kershaw
Pedro Martinez
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 2000s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Clayton Kershaw | Pedro Martinez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 223 | 219 |
| Losses not scored | 96 | 100 |
| Games | 455 | Leads: 476 |
| Games Started | Leads: 451 | 409 |
| Complete Games | 25 | Leads: 46 |
| Shutouts | 15 | Leads: 17 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 3 |
| Strikeouts | 3,052 | Leads: 3,154 |
| Walks not scored | 713 | 760 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,193 | 2,221 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 235 | 239 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,855.1 | 2,827.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.53 | 2.93 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.02 | 1.05 |
| K/9 | 9.62 | Leads: 10.04 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.25 | 2.42 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pedro Martinez leads Clayton Kershaw 113,314 to 93,455 — driven by per-season impact — 6,295 PIV per season to 5,192 — rather than by longevity, since Pedro Martinez played 18 seasons to Clayton Kershaw's 18. 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)
Pedro Martinez — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Clayton Kershaw leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Pedro Martinez owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Clayton Kershaw. Note that PIV actually grades Pedro Martinez ahead, which means Clayton Kershaw's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Clayton Kershaw and Pedro Martinez careers compare
From 2008 through 2009, Clayton Kershaw and Pedro Martinez were in the majors together. With 455 games against 476 across 18 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Clayton Kershaw struck out 9.62 and walked 2.25 per nine innings; Pedro Martinez struck out 10.04 and walked 2.42. Clayton Kershaw was mainly a starter (451 starts in 455 games), and Pedro Martinez was mainly a starter (409 starts in 476 games). In WHIP, Clayton Kershaw's 1.02 beats Pedro Martinez's 1.05. Clayton Kershaw owns the better peak by ERA: 1.69 ERA in 2016 for Clayton Kershaw against 1.74 ERA in 2000 for Pedro Martinez.
Clayton Kershaw vs Pedro Martinez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Pedro Martinez's 2.93.
- Who won more games?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Pedro Martinez's 219.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Pedro Martinez, with 3,154 to Clayton Kershaw's 3,052.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Pedro Martinez's 1.05.