Craig Kimbrel vs Sparky Lyle: Career Stats Comparison
Craig Kimbrel has the better career line of the two, leading 5 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Craig Kimbrel has played 2010–present as a pitcher; Sparky Lyle played 1967–1982 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
Craig Kimbrel (2010–present) and Sparky Lyle (1967–1982) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Craig Kimbrel has 57 wins and 1,322 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Sparky Lyle finished with 99 wins and 873 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Craig Kimbrel, with 2.69 to Sparky Lyle's 2.88.
- Who won more games? Sparky Lyle, with 99 to Craig Kimbrel's 57.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Sparky Lyle's 873.
- Who had the better WHIP? Craig Kimbrel, with 1.04 to Sparky Lyle's 1.28.
- Who pitched more innings? Sparky Lyle, with 1,390.1 to Craig Kimbrel's 867.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Craig Kimbrel, with 30,862 career Pitcher PIV to Sparky Lyle's 16,426.
Craig Kimbrel
Sparky Lyle
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 2010s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Craig Kimbrel is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Craig Kimbrel | Sparky Lyle |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 57 | Leads: 99 |
| Losses not scored | 53 | 76 |
| Games | 897 | Leads: 899 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 441 | 238 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,322 | 873 |
| Walks not scored | 368 | 481 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 532 | 1,292 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 79 | 84 |
| Innings Pitched | 867.2 | Leads: 1,390.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.69 | 2.88 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.04 | 1.28 |
| K/9 | Leads: 13.71 | 5.65 |
| BB/9 | 3.82 | Leads: 3.11 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Craig Kimbrel outpaces Sparky Lyle 30,862 to 16,426 — driven by per-season impact — 1,715 PIV per season to 913 — rather than by longevity, since Craig Kimbrel played 18 seasons to Sparky Lyle'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).
Craig Kimbrel
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Sparky Lyle — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Craig Kimbrel leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Sparky Lyle owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Craig Kimbrel. PIV agrees: Craig Kimbrel grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Craig Kimbrel and Sparky Lyle careers compare
No season is shared: Sparky Lyle played 1967–1982, Craig Kimbrel 2010–present. The two careers are close in length, 897 games for Craig Kimbrel and 899 for Sparky Lyle across 18 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Sparky Lyle are wins (99 to 57), games (899 to 897), and innings (1,390.1 to 867.2). By rate, Craig Kimbrel struck out 13.71 and walked 3.82 per nine innings; Sparky Lyle struck out 5.65 and walked 3.11. Craig Kimbrel worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 897 games, 441 saves), and Sparky Lyle worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 899 games, 238 saves). Because Craig Kimbrel is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Craig Kimbrel vs Sparky Lyle: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Craig Kimbrel or Sparky Lyle?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Craig Kimbrel leads Sparky Lyle in 5 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 2.69 to Sparky Lyle's 2.88.
- Who won more games?
- Sparky Lyle, with 99 to Craig Kimbrel's 57.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Sparky Lyle's 873.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 1.04 to Sparky Lyle's 1.28.