Corey Kluber vs Adam Wainwright: Career Stats Comparison
Corey Kluber (2011–2023) and Adam Wainwright (2005–present) — 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; Adam Wainwright put up 200 wins and 2,202 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Corey Kluber
Adam Wainwright
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 | Adam Wainwright |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 116 | 200 |
| Losses | 77 | 128 |
| Games | 271 | 478 |
| Games Started | 260 | 411 |
| Complete Games | 18 | 28 |
| Shutouts | 8 | 11 |
| Saves | 1 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | 1,725 | 2,202 |
| Walks | 368 | 736 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,486 | 2,577 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 177 | 233 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,641 | 2,668 |
| ERA | 3.44 | 3.53 |
| WHIP | 1.13 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | 9.46 | 7.43 |
| BB/9 | 2.02 | 2.48 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Adam Wainwright leads Corey Kluber 44,617 to 36,049 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,479 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)
Adam Wainwright — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Adam Wainwright 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 Adam Wainwright. PIV agrees: Adam Wainwright grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.