Clayton Kershaw vs John Smoltz: Career Stats Comparison
Clayton Kershaw (2008–present) and John Smoltz (1988–2009) — 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; John Smoltz put up 213 wins and 3,084 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Clayton Kershaw
John Smoltz
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 | John Smoltz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 223 | 213 |
| Losses | 96 | 155 |
| Games | 455 | 723 |
| Games Started | 451 | 481 |
| Complete Games | 25 | 53 |
| Shutouts | 15 | 16 |
| Saves | 0 | 154 |
| Strikeouts | 3,052 | 3,084 |
| Walks | 713 | 1,010 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,193 | 3,074 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 235 | 288 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,855 | 3,473 |
| ERA | 2.53 | 3.33 |
| WHIP | 1.02 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | 9.62 | 7.99 |
| BB/9 | 2.25 | 2.62 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Clayton Kershaw edges John Smoltz 93,455 to 91,907 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (5,192 vs 4,178 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)
John Smoltz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Clayton Kershaw leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while John Smoltz owns strikeouts 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.