Corey Kluber vs Cliff Lee: Career Stats Comparison
Corey Kluber (2011–2023) and Cliff Lee (2002–2014) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Corey Kluber compiled 116 wins and 1,725 strikeouts; Cliff Lee put up 143 wins and 1,824 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Corey Kluber
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 | Corey Kluber | Cliff Lee |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 116 | 143 |
| Losses | 77 | 91 |
| Games | 271 | 328 |
| Games Started | 260 | 324 |
| Complete Games | 18 | 29 |
| Shutouts | 8 | 12 |
| Saves | 1 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,725 | 1,824 |
| Walks | 368 | 464 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,486 | 2,116 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 177 | 223 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,641 | 2,156 |
| ERA | 3.44 | 3.52 |
| WHIP | 1.13 | 1.20 |
| K/9 | 9.46 | 7.61 |
| BB/9 | 2.02 | 1.94 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cliff Lee leads Corey Kluber 41,719 to 36,049 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,781 vs 2,773 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).
Corey Kluber — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Cliff Lee — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cliff Lee leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Corey Kluber owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cliff Lee. PIV agrees: Cliff Lee grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.