Tim Lincecum vs Ben Sheets: Career Stats Comparison
Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) and Ben Sheets (2001–2012) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Tim Lincecum compiled 110 wins and 1,736 strikeouts; Ben Sheets put up 94 wins and 1,325 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Tim Lincecum
Ben Sheets
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 | Ben Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 110 | 94 |
| Losses | 89 | 96 |
| Games | 278 | 250 |
| Games Started | 270 | 250 |
| Complete Games | 10 | 18 |
| Shutouts | 7 | 4 |
| Saves | 1 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,736 | 1,325 |
| Walks | 669 | 369 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,506 | 1,577 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 147 | 184 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,682 | 1,596 |
| ERA | 3.74 | 3.78 |
| WHIP | 1.29 | 1.22 |
| K/9 | 9.29 | 7.47 |
| BB/9 | 3.58 | 2.08 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ben Sheets edges Tim Lincecum 28,864 to 28,769 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,886 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)
Ben Sheets — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tim Lincecum leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and K/9, while Ben Sheets owns WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tim Lincecum. Note that PIV actually grades Ben Sheets ahead, which means Tim Lincecum's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.