Derek Lowe vs Javier Vazquez: Career Stats Comparison
Derek Lowe (1997–2013) and Javier Vazquez (1998–2011) — both came up during the 1990s, so the matchup is a direct one. Derek Lowe compiled 176 wins and 1,722 strikeouts; Javier Vazquez put up 165 wins and 2,536 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Derek Lowe
Javier Vazquez
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 | Derek Lowe | Javier Vazquez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 176 | 165 |
| Losses | 157 | 160 |
| Games | 681 | 450 |
| Games Started | 377 | 443 |
| Complete Games | 10 | 28 |
| Shutouts | 4 | 8 |
| Saves | 86 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,722 | 2,536 |
| Walks | 794 | 763 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,759 | 2,784 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 217 | 373 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,671 | 2,840 |
| ERA | 4.03 | 4.22 |
| WHIP | 1.33 | 1.25 |
| K/9 | 5.80 | 8.04 |
| BB/9 | 2.68 | 2.42 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Javier Vazquez edges Derek Lowe 36,249 to 35,122 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,589 vs 1,849 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).
Derek Lowe — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Javier Vazquez — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Javier Vazquez leads in strikeouts, WHIP, K/9, and innings pitched, while Derek Lowe owns wins and ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Javier Vazquez. PIV agrees: Javier Vazquez grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.