Brad Lidge vs Roy Oswalt: Career Stats Comparison
Roy Oswalt has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Brad Lidge played 2002–2012 as a pitcher; Roy Oswalt played 2001–2013 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
Brad Lidge (2002–2012) and Roy Oswalt (2001–2013) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Brad Lidge finished with 26 wins and 799 strikeouts; Roy Oswalt finished with 163 wins and 1,852 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Roy Oswalt, with 3.36 to Brad Lidge's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Roy Oswalt, with 163 to Brad Lidge's 26.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Roy Oswalt, with 1,852 to Brad Lidge's 799.
- Who had the better WHIP? Roy Oswalt, with 1.21 to Brad Lidge's 1.29.
- Who pitched more innings? Roy Oswalt, with 2,245.1 to Brad Lidge's 603.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Roy Oswalt, with 8 to Brad Lidge's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Roy Oswalt, with 55,095 career Pitcher PIV to Brad Lidge's 17,126.
Roy Oswalt
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 | Brad Lidge | Roy Oswalt |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 26 | Leads: 163 |
| Losses not scored | 32 | 102 |
| Games | Leads: 603 | 365 |
| Games Started | 1 | Leads: 341 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 20 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 8 |
| Saves | Leads: 225 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 799 | Leads: 1,852 |
| Walks not scored | 287 | 520 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 492 | 2,199 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 197 |
| Innings Pitched | 603.1 | Leads: 2,245.1 |
| ERA | 3.54 | Leads: 3.36 |
| WHIP | 1.29 | Leads: 1.21 |
| K/9 | Leads: 11.92 | 7.42 |
| BB/9 | 4.28 | Leads: 2.08 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Roy Oswalt outpaces Brad Lidge 55,095 to 17,126 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,935 PIV per season to 1,557, across 14 seasons to 11. 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).
Brad Lidge
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Roy Oswalt — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Roy Oswalt leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Brad Lidge owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Roy Oswalt. PIV agrees: Roy Oswalt grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt careers compare
From 2002 through 2012, Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt were in the majors together. The table compares 603 games of Brad Lidge with 365 of Roy Oswalt across 11 and 14 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Where Brad Lidge comes out ahead, it is in games (603 to 365), saves (225 to 0), and strikeouts per nine (11.92 to 7.42). By rate, Brad Lidge struck out 11.92 and walked 4.28 per nine innings; Roy Oswalt struck out 7.42 and walked 2.08. Their roles differ: Brad Lidge worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 603 games, 225 saves); Roy Oswalt was mainly a starter (341 starts in 365 games).
Brad Lidge vs Roy Oswalt: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Brad Lidge or Roy Oswalt?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Roy Oswalt leads Brad Lidge in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Roy Oswalt, with 3.36 to Brad Lidge's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Roy Oswalt, with 163 to Brad Lidge's 26.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Roy Oswalt, with 1,852 to Brad Lidge's 799.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Roy Oswalt, with 1.21 to Brad Lidge's 1.29.