Cliff Lee vs Derek Lowe: Career Stats Comparison
Cliff Lee (2002–2014) and Derek Lowe (1997–2013) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Cliff Lee compiled 143 wins and 1,824 strikeouts; Derek Lowe put up 176 wins and 1,722 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Derek Lowe
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 | Derek Lowe |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 143 | 176 |
| Losses | 91 | 157 |
| Games | 328 | 681 |
| Games Started | 324 | 377 |
| Complete Games | 29 | 10 |
| Shutouts | 12 | 4 |
| Saves | 0 | 86 |
| Strikeouts | 1,824 | 1,722 |
| Walks | 464 | 794 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,116 | 2,759 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 223 | 217 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,156 | 2,671 |
| ERA | 3.52 | 4.03 |
| WHIP | 1.20 | 1.33 |
| K/9 | 7.61 | 5.80 |
| BB/9 | 1.94 | 2.68 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cliff Lee leads Derek Lowe 41,719 to 35,122 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,781 vs 1,849 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)
Derek Lowe — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cliff Lee leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Derek Lowe owns wins and innings pitched. 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.