Brad Lidge vs J. J. Putz: Career Stats Comparison
Brad Lidge (2002–2012) and J. J. Putz (2003–2014) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Brad Lidge compiled 26 wins and 799 strikeouts; J. J. Putz put up 37 wins and 599 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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 | Brad Lidge | J. J. Putz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 26 | 37 |
| Losses | 32 | 33 |
| Games | 603 | 572 |
| Games Started | 1 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 225 | 189 |
| Strikeouts | 799 | 599 |
| Walks | 287 | 184 |
| Hits Allowed | 492 | 469 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 57 | 50 |
| Innings Pitched | 603 | 566 |
| ERA | 3.54 | 3.08 |
| WHIP | 1.29 | 1.15 |
| K/9 | 11.92 | 9.51 |
| BB/9 | 4.28 | 2.92 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Brad Lidge leads J. J. Putz 17,126 to 14,932 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,557 vs 1,244 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).
Brad Lidge — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
J. J. Putz — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Brad Lidge leads in strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while J. J. Putz owns wins, ERA, and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Brad Lidge. PIV agrees: Brad Lidge grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.