Gaylord Perry vs Zack Wheeler: Career Stats Comparison
Gaylord Perry has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Gaylord Perry played 1962–1983 as a pitcher; Zack Wheeler has played 2013–present 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
Gaylord Perry (1962–1983) and Zack Wheeler (2013–present) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Gaylord Perry finished with 314 wins and 3,534 strikeouts; Zack Wheeler has 127 wins and 2,013 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Gaylord Perry, with 3.11 to Zack Wheeler's 3.26.
- Who won more games? Gaylord Perry, with 314 to Zack Wheeler's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Gaylord Perry, with 3,534 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP? Zack Wheeler, with 1.13 to Gaylord Perry's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? Gaylord Perry, with 5,350.1 to Zack Wheeler's 1,890.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Gaylord Perry, with 53 to Zack Wheeler's 3.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Gaylord Perry, with 78,312 career Pitcher PIV to Zack Wheeler's 39,270.
Gaylord Perry
Zack Wheeler
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, and the 1960s and the 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Zack Wheeler is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Gaylord Perry | Zack Wheeler |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 314 | 127 |
| Losses not scored | 265 | 80 |
| Games | Leads: 777 | 311 |
| Games Started | Leads: 690 | 311 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 303 | 5 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 53 | 3 |
| Saves | Leads: 11 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,534 | 2,013 |
| Walks not scored | 1,379 | 537 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,938 | 1,598 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 399 | 187 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,350.1 | 1,890.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.11 | 3.26 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | Leads: 1.13 |
| K/9 | 5.94 | Leads: 9.58 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.32 | 2.56 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Gaylord Perry outpaces Zack Wheeler 78,312 to 39,270 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Gaylord Perry played 25 seasons to Zack Wheeler's 11, while Zack Wheeler carries the higher per-season figure (3,570 to 3,132). 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).
Gaylord Perry — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Zack Wheeler — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Gaylord Perry leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Zack Wheeler owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Gaylord Perry. PIV agrees: Gaylord Perry grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Gaylord Perry and Zack Wheeler careers compare
Gaylord Perry (1962–1983) was finished before Zack Wheeler (2013–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. The table compares 777 games of Gaylord Perry with 311 of Zack Wheeler across 25 and 11 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Zack Wheeler's edges on the table are WHIP (1.13 to 1.18) and strikeouts per nine (9.58 to 5.94). By rate, Gaylord Perry struck out 5.94 and walked 2.32 per nine innings; Zack Wheeler struck out 9.58 and walked 2.56. Both had the same role: Gaylord Perry was mainly a starter (690 starts in 777 games); Zack Wheeler was mainly a starter (311 starts in 311 games). Zack Wheeler's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Gaylord Perry vs Zack Wheeler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Gaylord Perry or Zack Wheeler?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Gaylord Perry leads Zack Wheeler in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Gaylord Perry, with 3.11 to Zack Wheeler's 3.26.
- Who won more games?
- Gaylord Perry, with 314 to Zack Wheeler's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Gaylord Perry, with 3,534 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Zack Wheeler, with 1.13 to Gaylord Perry's 1.18.