Paul Skenes vs Ed Walsh: Career Stats Comparison
Ed Walsh has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Paul Skenes has played 2024–present as a pitcher; Ed Walsh played 1904–1917 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
Paul Skenes (2024–present) and Ed Walsh (1904–1917) — breaking in during the 2020s and the 1900s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Paul Skenes has 31 wins and 586 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Ed Walsh finished with 195 wins and 1,736 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Ed Walsh, with 1.82 to Paul Skenes's 2.62.
- Who won more games? Ed Walsh, with 195 to Paul Skenes's 31.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Ed Walsh, with 1,736 to Paul Skenes's 586.
- Who had the better WHIP? Ed Walsh, with 1.00 to Paul Skenes's 1.01.
- Who pitched more innings? Ed Walsh, with 2,964.1 to Paul Skenes's 495.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Ed Walsh, with 57 to Paul Skenes's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Ed Walsh, with 62,631 career Pitcher PIV to Paul Skenes's 14,331.
Paul Skenes
Ed Walsh
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 2020s and the 1900s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Paul Skenes is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Paul Skenes | Ed Walsh |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 31 | Leads: 195 |
| Losses not scored | 24 | 126 |
| Games | 87 | Leads: 430 |
| Games Started | 87 | Leads: 315 |
| Complete Games | 1 | Leads: 250 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 57 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 35 |
| Strikeouts | 586 | Leads: 1,736 |
| Walks not scored | 123 | 617 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 376 | 2,346 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 41 | 23 |
| Innings Pitched | 495.0 | Leads: 2,964.1 |
| ERA | 2.62 | Leads: 1.82 |
| WHIP | 1.01 | Leads: 1.00 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.65 | 5.27 |
| BB/9 | 2.24 | Leads: 1.87 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ed Walsh outpaces Paul Skenes 62,631 to 14,331 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ed Walsh played 14 seasons to Paul Skenes's 2, while Paul Skenes carries the higher per-season figure (7,166 to 4,474). 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).
Paul Skenes — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Ed Walsh — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ed Walsh leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Paul Skenes owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ed Walsh. PIV agrees: Ed Walsh grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Paul Skenes and Ed Walsh careers compare
Ed Walsh (1904–1917) was finished before Paul Skenes (2024–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Paul Skenes has appeared in 87 games to Ed Walsh's 430. Where Paul Skenes comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts per nine (10.65 to 5.27). By rate, Paul Skenes struck out 10.65 and walked 2.24 per nine innings; Ed Walsh struck out 5.27 and walked 1.87. Both had the same role: Paul Skenes was mainly a starter (87 starts in 87 games); Ed Walsh was mainly a starter (315 starts in 430 games). Paul Skenes's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Paul Skenes vs Ed Walsh: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul Skenes or Ed Walsh?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ed Walsh leads Paul Skenes in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Ed Walsh, with 1.82 to Paul Skenes's 2.62.
- Who won more games?
- Ed Walsh, with 195 to Paul Skenes's 31.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Ed Walsh, with 1,736 to Paul Skenes's 586.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Ed Walsh, with 1.00 to Paul Skenes's 1.01.