Cliff Lee vs Tim Lincecum: Career Stats Comparison
Cliff Lee (2002–2014) and Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Cliff Lee compiled 143 wins and 1,824 strikeouts; Tim Lincecum put up 110 wins and 1,736 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Tim Lincecum
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 | Cliff Lee | Tim Lincecum |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 143 | 110 |
| Losses | 91 | 89 |
| Games | 328 | 278 |
| Games Started | 324 | 270 |
| Complete Games | 29 | 10 |
| Shutouts | 12 | 7 |
| Saves | 0 | 1 |
| Strikeouts | 1,824 | 1,736 |
| Walks | 464 | 669 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,116 | 1,506 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 223 | 147 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,156 | 1,682 |
| ERA | 3.52 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | 1.20 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | 7.61 | 9.29 |
| BB/9 | 1.94 | 3.58 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cliff Lee outpaces Tim Lincecum 41,719 to 28,769 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,781 vs 2,877 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).
Cliff Lee — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tim Lincecum — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cliff Lee leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Tim Lincecum owns 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.