Craig Kimbrel vs Bruce Sutter: Career Stats Comparison
Craig Kimbrel has the better career line of the two, leading 6 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; Bruce Sutter played 1976–1988 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 Bruce Sutter (1976–1988) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Craig Kimbrel has 57 wins and 1,322 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Bruce Sutter finished with 68 wins and 861 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 Bruce Sutter's 2.83.
- Who won more games? Bruce Sutter, with 68 to Craig Kimbrel's 57.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP? Craig Kimbrel, with 1.04 to Bruce Sutter's 1.14.
- Who pitched more innings? Bruce Sutter, with 1,042.0 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 Bruce Sutter's 23,292.
Craig Kimbrel
Bruce Sutter
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 1970s 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 | Bruce Sutter |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 57 | Leads: 68 |
| Losses not scored | 53 | 71 |
| Games | Leads: 897 | 661 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 441 | 300 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,322 | 861 |
| Walks not scored | 368 | 309 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 532 | 879 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 79 | 77 |
| Innings Pitched | 867.2 | Leads: 1,042.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.69 | 2.83 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.04 | 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 13.71 | 7.44 |
| BB/9 | 3.82 | Leads: 2.67 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Craig Kimbrel leads Bruce Sutter 30,862 to 23,292 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Craig Kimbrel played 18 seasons to Bruce Sutter's 12, while Bruce Sutter carries the higher per-season figure (1,941 to 1,715). 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.
Bruce Sutter — 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 Bruce Sutter 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 Bruce Sutter careers compare
Bruce Sutter (1976–1988) was finished before Craig Kimbrel (2010–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. The two careers are close in length, 897 games for Craig Kimbrel and 661 for Bruce Sutter across 18 and 12 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Bruce Sutter comes out ahead, it is in wins (68 to 57), innings (1,042.0 to 867.2), and walks per nine (2.67 to 3.82). By rate, Craig Kimbrel struck out 13.71 and walked 3.82 per nine innings; Bruce Sutter struck out 7.44 and walked 2.67. Because Craig Kimbrel is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Craig Kimbrel vs Bruce Sutter: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Craig Kimbrel or Bruce Sutter?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Craig Kimbrel leads Bruce Sutter in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 2.69 to Bruce Sutter's 2.83.
- Who won more games?
- Bruce Sutter, with 68 to Craig Kimbrel's 57.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 1.04 to Bruce Sutter's 1.14.