Cliff Lee vs Brandon Webb: Career Stats Comparison
Cliff Lee has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Cliff Lee played 2002–2014 as a pitcher; Brandon Webb played 2003–2009 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 Brandon Webb (2003–2009) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Cliff Lee finished with 143 wins and 1,824 strikeouts; Brandon Webb finished with 87 wins and 1,065 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Brandon Webb, with 3.27 to Cliff Lee's 3.52.
- Who won more games? Cliff Lee, with 143 to Brandon Webb's 87.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Cliff Lee, with 1,824 to Brandon Webb's 1,065.
- Who had the better WHIP? Cliff Lee, with 1.20 to Brandon Webb's 1.24.
- Who pitched more innings? Cliff Lee, with 2,156.2 to Brandon Webb's 1,319.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Cliff Lee, with 12 to Brandon Webb's 8.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Cliff Lee, with 41,719 career Pitcher PIV to Brandon Webb's 32,131.
Cliff Lee
Brandon Webb
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 | Brandon Webb |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 143 | 87 |
| Losses not scored | 91 | 62 |
| Games | Leads: 328 | 199 |
| Games Started | Leads: 324 | 198 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 29 | 15 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 12 | 8 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,824 | 1,065 |
| Walks not scored | 464 | 435 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,116 | 1,200 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 223 | 92 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,156.2 | 1,319.2 |
| ERA | 3.52 | Leads: 3.27 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.20 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.61 | 7.26 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.94 | 2.97 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cliff Lee leads Brandon Webb 41,719 to 32,131 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Cliff Lee played 15 seasons to Brandon Webb's 7, while Brandon Webb carries the higher per-season figure (4,590 to 2,781). 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)
Brandon Webb — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cliff Lee leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Brandon Webb owns ERA. 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.
Related Matchups
How the Cliff Lee and Brandon Webb careers compare
From 2003 through 2009, Cliff Lee and Brandon Webb were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Cliff Lee appeared in 328 games to Brandon Webb's 199. Where Brandon Webb comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.27 to 3.52). The per-nine rows read 7.61 strikeouts and 1.94 walks for Cliff Lee, 7.26 and 2.97 for Brandon Webb. Cliff Lee was mainly a starter (324 starts in 328 games), and Brandon Webb was mainly a starter (198 starts in 199 games). Cliff Lee allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.20 WHIP to Brandon Webb's 1.24.
Cliff Lee vs Brandon Webb: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cliff Lee or Brandon Webb?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cliff Lee leads Brandon Webb in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Brandon Webb, with 3.27 to Cliff Lee's 3.52.
- Who won more games?
- Cliff Lee, with 143 to Brandon Webb's 87.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Cliff Lee, with 1,824 to Brandon Webb's 1,065.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Cliff Lee, with 1.20 to Brandon Webb's 1.24.