Warren Spahn vs Zack Wheeler: Career Stats Comparison
Warren Spahn 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). Warren Spahn played 1942–1965 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
Warren Spahn (1942–1965) and Zack Wheeler (2013–present) — breaking in during the 1940s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Warren Spahn finished with 363 wins and 2,583 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? Warren Spahn, with 3.09 to Zack Wheeler's 3.26.
- Who won more games? Warren Spahn, with 363 to Zack Wheeler's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Warren Spahn, with 2,583 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP? Zack Wheeler, with 1.13 to Warren Spahn's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Warren Spahn, with 5,243.2 to Zack Wheeler's 1,890.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Warren Spahn, with 63 to Zack Wheeler's 3.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Warren Spahn, with 63,558 career Pitcher PIV to Zack Wheeler's 39,270.
Warren Spahn
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 1940s 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 | Warren Spahn | Zack Wheeler |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 363 | 127 |
| Losses not scored | 245 | 80 |
| Games | Leads: 750 | 311 |
| Games Started | Leads: 665 | 311 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 382 | 5 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 63 | 3 |
| Saves | Leads: 29 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,583 | 2,013 |
| Walks not scored | 1,434 | 537 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,830 | 1,598 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 434 | 187 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,243.2 | 1,890.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.09 | 3.26 |
| WHIP | 1.19 | Leads: 1.13 |
| K/9 | 4.43 | Leads: 9.58 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.46 | 2.56 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Warren Spahn outpaces Zack Wheeler 63,558 to 39,270 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Warren Spahn played 22 seasons to Zack Wheeler's 11, while Zack Wheeler carries the higher per-season figure (3,570 to 2,889). 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).
Warren Spahn — 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, Warren Spahn 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 Warren Spahn. PIV agrees: Warren Spahn grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Warren Spahn and Zack Wheeler careers compare
Warren Spahn (1942–1965) was finished before Zack Wheeler (2013–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Warren Spahn has the far longer record, 750 games against 311 across 22 and 11 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Zack Wheeler comes out ahead, it is in WHIP (1.13 to 1.19) and strikeouts per nine (9.58 to 4.43). By rate, Warren Spahn struck out 4.43 and walked 2.46 per nine innings; Zack Wheeler struck out 9.58 and walked 2.56. Both had the same role: Warren Spahn was mainly a starter (665 starts in 750 games); Zack Wheeler was mainly a starter (311 starts in 311 games). Because Zack Wheeler is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Warren Spahn vs Zack Wheeler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Warren Spahn or Zack Wheeler?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Warren Spahn leads Zack Wheeler in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Warren Spahn, with 3.09 to Zack Wheeler's 3.26.
- Who won more games?
- Warren Spahn, with 363 to Zack Wheeler's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Warren Spahn, with 2,583 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Zack Wheeler, with 1.13 to Warren Spahn's 1.19.