Derek Lowe vs Adam Wainwright: Career Stats Comparison
Derek Lowe (1997–2013) and Adam Wainwright (2005–present) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Derek Lowe compiled 176 wins and 1,722 strikeouts; Adam Wainwright put up 200 wins and 2,202 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Derek Lowe
Adam Wainwright
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 | Adam Wainwright |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 176 | 200 |
| Losses | 157 | 128 |
| Games | 681 | 478 |
| Games Started | 377 | 411 |
| Complete Games | 10 | 28 |
| Shutouts | 4 | 11 |
| Saves | 86 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | 1,722 | 2,202 |
| Walks | 794 | 736 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,759 | 2,577 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 217 | 233 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,671 | 2,668 |
| ERA | 4.03 | 3.53 |
| WHIP | 1.33 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | 5.80 | 7.43 |
| BB/9 | 2.68 | 2.48 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Adam Wainwright leads Derek Lowe 44,617 to 35,122 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,479 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)
Adam Wainwright — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Adam Wainwright leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Derek Lowe owns innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Adam Wainwright. PIV agrees: Adam Wainwright grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.