Craig Kimbrel vs Billy Wagner: 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; Billy Wagner played 1995–2010 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 Billy Wagner (1995–2010) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Craig Kimbrel has 57 wins and 1,322 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Billy Wagner finished with 47 wins and 1,196 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Billy Wagner, with 2.31 to Craig Kimbrel's 2.69.
- Who won more games? Craig Kimbrel, with 57 to Billy Wagner's 47.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Billy Wagner's 1,196.
- Who had the better WHIP? Billy Wagner, with 1.00 to Craig Kimbrel's 1.04.
- Who pitched more innings? Billy Wagner, with 903.0 to Craig Kimbrel's 867.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Billy Wagner, with 38,470 career Pitcher PIV to Craig Kimbrel's 30,862.
Craig Kimbrel
Billy Wagner
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 1990s 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 | Billy Wagner |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 57 | 47 |
| Losses not scored | 53 | 40 |
| Games | Leads: 897 | 853 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 441 | 422 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,322 | 1,196 |
| Walks not scored | 368 | 300 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 532 | 601 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 79 | 82 |
| Innings Pitched | 867.2 | Leads: 903.0 |
| ERA | 2.69 | Leads: 2.31 |
| WHIP | 1.04 | Leads: 1.00 |
| K/9 | Leads: 13.71 | 11.92 |
| BB/9 | 3.82 | Leads: 2.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Billy Wagner leads Craig Kimbrel 38,470 to 30,862 — driven by per-season impact — 2,263 PIV per season to 1,715 — rather than by longevity, since Billy Wagner played 17 seasons to Craig Kimbrel'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.
Billy Wagner
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Billy Wagner leads in ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Craig Kimbrel owns wins, strikeouts, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Billy Wagner. PIV agrees: Billy Wagner 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 Billy Wagner careers compare
From 2010 through 2010, Craig Kimbrel and Billy Wagner were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 897 games for Craig Kimbrel and 853 for Billy Wagner across 18 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Billy Wagner's edges on the table are innings (903.0 to 867.2), ERA (2.31 to 2.69), and WHIP (1.00 to 1.04). By rate, Craig Kimbrel struck out 13.71 and walked 3.82 per nine innings; Billy Wagner struck out 11.92 and walked 2.99. Craig Kimbrel worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 897 games, 441 saves), and Billy Wagner worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 853 games, 422 saves). Craig Kimbrel's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Craig Kimbrel vs Billy Wagner: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Craig Kimbrel or Billy Wagner?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Craig Kimbrel leads Billy Wagner in 5 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Billy Wagner, with 2.31 to Craig Kimbrel's 2.69.
- Who won more games?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 57 to Billy Wagner's 47.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Billy Wagner's 1,196.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Billy Wagner, with 1.00 to Craig Kimbrel's 1.04.