Billy Wagner vs Devin Williams: Career Stats Comparison
Billy Wagner has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Billy Wagner played 1995–2010 as a pitcher; Devin Williams has played 2019–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
Billy Wagner (1995–2010) and Devin Williams (2019–present) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Billy Wagner finished with 47 wins and 1,196 strikeouts; Devin Williams has 34 wins and 517 strikeouts through October 6, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Billy Wagner, with 2.31 to Devin Williams's 2.69.
- Who won more games? Billy Wagner, with 47 to Devin Williams's 34.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Billy Wagner, with 1,196 to Devin Williams's 517.
- Who had the better WHIP? Billy Wagner, with 1.00 to Devin Williams's 1.11.
- Who pitched more innings? Billy Wagner, with 903.0 to Devin Williams's 338.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Billy Wagner, with 38,470 career Pitcher PIV to Devin Williams's 13,215.
Billy Wagner
Devin Williams
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 1990s and the 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Devin Williams is still active — his totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Billy Wagner | Devin Williams |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 47 | 34 |
| Losses not scored | 40 | 18 |
| Games | Leads: 853 | 352 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 422 | 102 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,196 | 517 |
| Walks not scored | 300 | 158 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 601 | 217 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 82 | 23 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 903.0 | 338.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.31 | 2.69 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.00 | 1.11 |
| K/9 | 11.92 | Leads: 13.75 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.99 | 4.20 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Billy Wagner outpaces Devin Williams 38,470 to 13,215 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,263 PIV per season to 1,888, across 17 seasons to 7. 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).
Billy Wagner
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Devin Williams
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Billy Wagner leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Devin Williams owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Billy Wagner. PIV agrees: Billy Wagner grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Billy Wagner and Devin Williams careers compare
Billy Wagner (1995–2010) was finished before Devin Williams (2019–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Billy Wagner appeared in 853 games to Devin Williams's 352. Devin Williams's edges on the table are strikeouts per nine (13.75 to 11.92). By rate, Billy Wagner struck out 11.92 and walked 2.99 per nine innings; Devin Williams struck out 13.75 and walked 4.20. Billy Wagner worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 853 games, 422 saves), and Devin Williams worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 352 games, 102 saves). Billy Wagner allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.00 WHIP to Devin Williams's 1.11. Devin Williams's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Billy Wagner vs Devin Williams: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Billy Wagner or Devin Williams?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Billy Wagner leads Devin Williams in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Billy Wagner, with 2.31 to Devin Williams's 2.69.
- Who won more games?
- Billy Wagner, with 47 to Devin Williams's 34.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Billy Wagner, with 1,196 to Devin Williams's 517.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Billy Wagner, with 1.00 to Devin Williams's 1.11.