Clayton Kershaw vs Jake Peavy: Career Stats Comparison
Clayton Kershaw has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Jake Peavy played 2002–2016 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 Jake Peavy (2002–2016) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Clayton Kershaw finished with 223 wins and 3,052 strikeouts; Jake Peavy finished with 152 wins and 2,207 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 Jake Peavy's 3.63.
- Who won more games? Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Jake Peavy's 152.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Jake Peavy's 2,207.
- Who had the better WHIP? Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Jake Peavy's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Clayton Kershaw, with 2,855.1 to Jake Peavy's 2,377.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 15 to Jake Peavy's 6.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Clayton Kershaw, with 93,455 career Pitcher PIV to Jake Peavy's 34,745.
Clayton Kershaw
Jake Peavy
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 | Jake Peavy |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 223 | 152 |
| Losses not scored | 96 | 126 |
| Games | Leads: 455 | 388 |
| Games Started | Leads: 451 | 377 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 25 | 15 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 15 | 6 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,052 | 2,207 |
| Walks not scored | 713 | 708 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,193 | 2,134 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 235 | 259 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,855.1 | 2,377.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.53 | 3.63 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.02 | 1.20 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.62 | 8.36 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.25 | 2.68 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Clayton Kershaw outpaces Jake Peavy 93,455 to 34,745 — driven by per-season impact — 5,192 PIV per season to 1,930 — rather than by longevity, since Clayton Kershaw played 18 seasons to Jake Peavy'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)
Jake Peavy — 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 Jake Peavy 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 Jake Peavy careers compare
From 2008 through 2016, Clayton Kershaw and Jake Peavy were in the majors together. With 455 games against 388 across 18 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Clayton Kershaw leads every scored row of the table. By rate, Clayton Kershaw struck out 9.62 and walked 2.25 per nine innings; Jake Peavy struck out 8.36 and walked 2.68. Clayton Kershaw was mainly a starter (451 starts in 455 games), and Jake Peavy was mainly a starter (377 starts in 388 games). Clayton Kershaw allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.02 WHIP to Jake Peavy's 1.20.
Clayton Kershaw vs Jake Peavy: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Clayton Kershaw or Jake Peavy?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Clayton Kershaw leads Jake Peavy in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Jake Peavy's 3.63.
- Who won more games?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Jake Peavy's 152.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 3,052 to Jake Peavy's 2,207.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Jake Peavy's 1.20.