Chris Sale vs Fernando Valenzuela: Career Stats Comparison
Chris Sale and Fernando Valenzuela are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Chris Sale has played 2010–present as a pitcher; Fernando Valenzuela played 1980–1997 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
Chris Sale (2010–present) and Fernando Valenzuela (1980–1997) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Chris Sale has 159 wins and 2,779 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Fernando Valenzuela finished with 173 wins and 2,074 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Chris Sale, with 2.95 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Fernando Valenzuela, with 173 to Chris Sale's 159.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Chris Sale, with 2,779 to Fernando Valenzuela's 2,074.
- Who had the better WHIP? Chris Sale, with 1.04 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,930.0 to Chris Sale's 2,246.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fernando Valenzuela, with 31 to Chris Sale's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Chris Sale, with 65,834 career Pitcher PIV to Fernando Valenzuela's 30,102.
Chris Sale
Fernando Valenzuela
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 2010s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Chris Sale is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Chris Sale | Fernando Valenzuela |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 159 | Leads: 173 |
| Losses not scored | 97 | 153 |
| Games | 420 | Leads: 453 |
| Games Started | 339 | Leads: 424 |
| Complete Games | 17 | Leads: 113 |
| Shutouts | 4 | Leads: 31 |
| Saves | Leads: 12 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,779 | 2,074 |
| Walks not scored | 518 | 1,151 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,821 | 2,718 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 223 | 226 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,246.2 | Leads: 2,930.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.95 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.04 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | Leads: 11.13 | 6.37 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.08 | 3.54 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Chris Sale outpaces Fernando Valenzuela 65,834 to 30,102 — driven by per-season impact — 4,389 PIV per season to 1,672 — rather than by longevity, since Chris Sale played 15 seasons to Fernando Valenzuela's 18. 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).
Chris Sale — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Fernando Valenzuela — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Chris Sale leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Fernando Valenzuela owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Chris Sale. PIV agrees: Chris Sale grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Chris Sale and Fernando Valenzuela careers compare
No season is shared: Fernando Valenzuela played 1980–1997, Chris Sale 2010–present. The two careers are close in length, 420 games for Chris Sale and 453 for Fernando Valenzuela across 15 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. By rate, Chris Sale struck out 11.13 and walked 2.08 per nine innings; Fernando Valenzuela struck out 6.37 and walked 3.54. Chris Sale was mainly a starter (339 starts in 420 games), and Fernando Valenzuela was mainly a starter (424 starts in 453 games). The complete-game row, 17 against 113, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games. In WHIP, Chris Sale's 1.04 beats Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32. Because Chris Sale is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Chris Sale vs Fernando Valenzuela: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Chris Sale, with 2.95 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Fernando Valenzuela, with 173 to Chris Sale's 159.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Chris Sale, with 2,779 to Fernando Valenzuela's 2,074.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Chris Sale, with 1.04 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.