Cliff Lee vs Adam Wainwright: Career Stats Comparison
Cliff Lee and Adam Wainwright are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Cliff Lee played 2002–2014 as a pitcher; Adam Wainwright played 2005–2023 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
Cliff Lee (2002–2014) and Adam Wainwright (2005–2023) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Cliff Lee finished with 143 wins and 1,824 strikeouts; Adam Wainwright finished with 200 wins and 2,202 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Cliff Lee, with 3.52 to Adam Wainwright's 3.53.
- Who won more games? Adam Wainwright, with 200 to Cliff Lee's 143.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Adam Wainwright, with 2,202 to Cliff Lee's 1,824.
- Who had the better WHIP? Cliff Lee, with 1.20 to Adam Wainwright's 1.24.
- Who pitched more innings? Adam Wainwright, with 2,668.1 to Cliff Lee's 2,156.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Cliff Lee, with 12 to Adam Wainwright's 11.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Adam Wainwright, with 44,617 career Pitcher PIV to Cliff Lee's 41,719.
Cliff Lee
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. 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Cliff Lee | Adam Wainwright |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 143 | Leads: 200 |
| Losses not scored | 91 | 128 |
| Games | 328 | Leads: 478 |
| Games Started | 324 | Leads: 411 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 29 | 28 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 12 | 11 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 3 |
| Strikeouts | 1,824 | Leads: 2,202 |
| Walks not scored | 464 | 736 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,116 | 2,577 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 223 | 233 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,156.2 | Leads: 2,668.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.52 | 3.53 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.20 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.61 | 7.43 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.94 | 2.48 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Adam Wainwright edges Cliff Lee 44,617 to 41,719 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Adam Wainwright played 18 seasons to Cliff Lee's 15, while Cliff Lee carries the higher per-season figure (2,781 to 2,479). 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).
Cliff Lee — 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 Cliff Lee 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.
Related Matchups
How the Cliff Lee and Adam Wainwright careers compare
From 2005 through 2014, Cliff Lee and Adam Wainwright were in the majors together. With 328 games against 478 across 15 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Cliff Lee struck out 7.61 and walked 1.94 per nine innings; Adam Wainwright struck out 7.43 and walked 2.48. Cliff Lee was mainly a starter (324 starts in 328 games), and Adam Wainwright was mainly a starter (411 starts in 478 games). Cliff Lee allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.20 WHIP to Adam Wainwright's 1.24.
Cliff Lee vs Adam Wainwright: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Cliff Lee, with 3.52 to Adam Wainwright's 3.53.
- Who won more games?
- Adam Wainwright, with 200 to Cliff Lee's 143.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Adam Wainwright, with 2,202 to Cliff Lee's 1,824.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Cliff Lee, with 1.20 to Adam Wainwright's 1.24.