Tim Lincecum vs Derek Lowe: Career Stats Comparison
Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) and Derek Lowe (1997–2013) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Tim Lincecum compiled 110 wins and 1,736 strikeouts; Derek Lowe put up 176 wins and 1,722 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Tim Lincecum
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 | Tim Lincecum | Derek Lowe |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 110 | 176 |
| Losses | 89 | 157 |
| Games | 278 | 681 |
| Games Started | 270 | 377 |
| Complete Games | 10 | 10 |
| Shutouts | 7 | 4 |
| Saves | 1 | 86 |
| Strikeouts | 1,736 | 1,722 |
| Walks | 669 | 794 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,506 | 2,759 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 147 | 217 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,682 | 2,671 |
| ERA | 3.74 | 4.03 |
| WHIP | 1.29 | 1.33 |
| K/9 | 9.29 | 5.80 |
| BB/9 | 3.58 | 2.68 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Derek Lowe leads Tim Lincecum 35,122 to 28,769 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,849 vs 2,877 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).
Tim Lincecum — 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, Tim Lincecum 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 Tim Lincecum. Note that PIV actually grades Derek Lowe ahead, which means Tim Lincecum's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.