Corey Kluber vs Paul Skenes: Career Stats Comparison
Corey Kluber has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Corey Kluber played 2011–2023 as a pitcher; Paul Skenes has played 2024–present 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
Corey Kluber (2011–2023) and Paul Skenes (2024–present) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2020s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Corey Kluber finished with 116 wins and 1,725 strikeouts; Paul Skenes has 31 wins and 586 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Paul Skenes, with 2.62 to Corey Kluber's 3.44.
- Who won more games? Corey Kluber, with 116 to Paul Skenes's 31.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Corey Kluber, with 1,725 to Paul Skenes's 586.
- Who had the better WHIP? Paul Skenes, with 1.01 to Corey Kluber's 1.13.
- Who pitched more innings? Corey Kluber, with 1,641.2 to Paul Skenes's 495.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Corey Kluber, with 8 to Paul Skenes's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Corey Kluber, with 36,049 career Pitcher PIV to Paul Skenes's 14,331.
Corey Kluber
Paul Skenes
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 2020s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Paul Skenes is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Corey Kluber | Paul Skenes |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 116 | 31 |
| Losses not scored | 77 | 24 |
| Games | Leads: 271 | 87 |
| Games Started | Leads: 260 | 87 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 18 | 1 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 8 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 1 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,725 | 586 |
| Walks not scored | 368 | 123 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,486 | 376 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 177 | 41 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,641.2 | 495.0 |
| ERA | 3.44 | Leads: 2.62 |
| WHIP | 1.13 | Leads: 1.01 |
| K/9 | 9.46 | Leads: 10.65 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.02 | 2.24 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Corey Kluber outpaces Paul Skenes 36,049 to 14,331 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Corey Kluber played 13 seasons to Paul Skenes's 2, while Paul Skenes carries the higher per-season figure (7,166 to 2,773). 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).
Corey Kluber — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Paul Skenes — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Corey Kluber leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Paul Skenes owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Corey Kluber. PIV agrees: Corey Kluber grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Corey Kluber and Paul Skenes careers compare
No season is shared: Corey Kluber played 2011–2023, Paul Skenes 2024–present. Corey Kluber has the far longer record, 271 games against 87 across 13 and 2 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. The green cells for Paul Skenes are ERA (2.62 to 3.44), WHIP (1.01 to 1.13), and strikeouts per nine (10.65 to 9.46). By rate, Corey Kluber struck out 9.46 and walked 2.02 per nine innings; Paul Skenes struck out 10.65 and walked 2.24. Corey Kluber was mainly a starter (260 starts in 271 games), and Paul Skenes was mainly a starter (87 starts in 87 games). Paul Skenes allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.01 WHIP to Corey Kluber's 1.13. Because Paul Skenes is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Corey Kluber vs Paul Skenes: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Corey Kluber or Paul Skenes?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Corey Kluber leads Paul Skenes in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Paul Skenes, with 2.62 to Corey Kluber's 3.44.
- Who won more games?
- Corey Kluber, with 116 to Paul Skenes's 31.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Corey Kluber, with 1,725 to Paul Skenes's 586.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Paul Skenes, with 1.01 to Corey Kluber's 1.13.