Tim Lincecum vs Ben Sheets: Career Stats Comparison
Tim Lincecum 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). Tim Lincecum played 2007–2016 as a pitcher; Ben Sheets played 2001–2012 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
Tim Lincecum (2007–2016) and Ben Sheets (2001–2012) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Tim Lincecum finished with 110 wins and 1,736 strikeouts; Ben Sheets finished with 94 wins and 1,325 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Tim Lincecum, with 3.74 to Ben Sheets's 3.78.
- Who won more games? Tim Lincecum, with 110 to Ben Sheets's 94.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tim Lincecum, with 1,736 to Ben Sheets's 1,325.
- Who had the better WHIP? Ben Sheets, with 1.22 to Tim Lincecum's 1.29.
- Who pitched more innings? Tim Lincecum, with 1,682.0 to Ben Sheets's 1,596.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tim Lincecum, with 7 to Ben Sheets's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Ben Sheets, with 28,864 career Pitcher PIV to Tim Lincecum's 28,769.
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. 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 | Tim Lincecum | Ben Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 110 | 94 |
| Losses not scored | 89 | 96 |
| Games | Leads: 278 | 250 |
| Games Started | Leads: 270 | 250 |
| Complete Games | 10 | Leads: 18 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 7 | 4 |
| Saves | Leads: 1 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,736 | 1,325 |
| Walks not scored | 669 | 369 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,506 | 1,577 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 147 | 184 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,682.0 | 1,596.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.74 | 3.78 |
| WHIP | 1.29 | Leads: 1.22 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.29 | 7.47 |
| BB/9 | 3.58 | Leads: 2.08 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ben Sheets edges Tim Lincecum 28,864 to 28,769 — driven by per-season impact — 2,886 PIV per season to 2,877 — rather than by longevity, since Ben Sheets played 10 seasons to Tim Lincecum's 10. 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).
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.
Related Matchups
How the Tim Lincecum and Ben Sheets careers compare
Tim Lincecum and Ben Sheets were active at the same time between 2007 and 2012. With 278 games against 250 across 10 and 10 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Ben Sheets's edges on the table are complete games (18 to 10), WHIP (1.22 to 1.29), and walks per nine (2.08 to 3.58). By rate, Tim Lincecum struck out 9.29 and walked 3.58 per nine innings; Ben Sheets struck out 7.47 and walked 2.08. Tim Lincecum was mainly a starter (270 starts in 278 games), and Ben Sheets was mainly a starter (250 starts in 250 games). In WHIP, Ben Sheets's 1.22 beats Tim Lincecum's 1.29.
Tim Lincecum vs Ben Sheets: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Tim Lincecum or Ben Sheets?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tim Lincecum leads Ben Sheets in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Tim Lincecum, with 3.74 to Ben Sheets's 3.78.
- Who won more games?
- Tim Lincecum, with 110 to Ben Sheets's 94.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tim Lincecum, with 1,736 to Ben Sheets's 1,325.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Ben Sheets, with 1.22 to Tim Lincecum's 1.29.