Clayton Kershaw vs Mike Mussina: Career Stats Comparison
Mike Mussina has the better career line of the two, leading 7 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; Mike Mussina played 1991–2008 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 Mike Mussina (1991–2008) — 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; Mike Mussina finished with 270 wins and 2,813 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 Mike Mussina's 3.68.
- Who won more games? Mike Mussina, with 270 to Clayton Kershaw's 223.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Mike Mussina's 2,813.
- Who had the better WHIP? Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Mike Mussina's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Mike Mussina, with 3,562.2 to Clayton Kershaw's 2,855.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Mike Mussina, with 23 to Clayton Kershaw's 15.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Clayton Kershaw, with 93,455 career Pitcher PIV to Mike Mussina's 76,572.
Clayton Kershaw
Mike Mussina
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 | Mike Mussina |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 223 | Leads: 270 |
| Losses not scored | 96 | 153 |
| Games | 455 | Leads: 537 |
| Games Started | 451 | Leads: 536 |
| Complete Games | 25 | Leads: 57 |
| Shutouts | 15 | Leads: 23 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,052 | 2,813 |
| Walks not scored | 713 | 785 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,193 | 3,460 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 235 | 376 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,855.1 | Leads: 3,562.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.53 | 3.68 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.02 | 1.19 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.62 | 7.11 |
| BB/9 | 2.25 | Leads: 1.98 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Clayton Kershaw leads Mike Mussina 93,455 to 76,572 — driven by per-season impact — 5,192 PIV per season to 4,254 — rather than by longevity, since Clayton Kershaw played 18 seasons to Mike Mussina'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)
Mike Mussina — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Clayton Kershaw leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Mike Mussina owns wins and innings pitched. 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 Mike Mussina careers compare
From 2008 through 2008, Clayton Kershaw and Mike Mussina were in the majors together. With 455 games against 537 across 18 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Clayton Kershaw's edges on the table are strikeouts (3,052 to 2,813), ERA (2.53 to 3.68), and WHIP (1.02 to 1.19). By rate, Clayton Kershaw struck out 9.62 and walked 2.25 per nine innings; Mike Mussina struck out 7.11 and walked 1.98. Both had the same role: Clayton Kershaw was mainly a starter (451 starts in 455 games); Mike Mussina was mainly a starter (536 starts in 537 games). In WHIP, Clayton Kershaw's 1.02 beats Mike Mussina's 1.19.
Clayton Kershaw vs Mike Mussina: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Clayton Kershaw or Mike Mussina?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mike Mussina leads Clayton Kershaw in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Mike Mussina's 3.68.
- Who won more games?
- Mike Mussina, with 270 to Clayton Kershaw's 223.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Mike Mussina's 2,813.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Mike Mussina's 1.19.