Billy Wagner vs Kerry Wood: Career Stats Comparison
Billy Wagner and Kerry Wood are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Billy Wagner played 1995–2010 as a pitcher; Kerry Wood played 1998–2012 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 Kerry Wood (1998–2012) — both came up during the 1990s, so the matchup is a direct one. Billy Wagner finished with 47 wins and 1,196 strikeouts; Kerry Wood finished with 86 wins and 1,582 strikeouts. 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 Kerry Wood's 3.67.
- Who won more games? Kerry Wood, with 86 to Billy Wagner's 47.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Kerry Wood, with 1,582 to Billy Wagner's 1,196.
- Who had the better WHIP? Billy Wagner, with 1.00 to Kerry Wood's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Kerry Wood, with 1,380.0 to Billy Wagner's 903.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Kerry Wood, with 5 to Billy Wagner's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Billy Wagner, with 38,470 career Pitcher PIV to Kerry Wood's 20,852.
Billy Wagner
Kerry Wood
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Billy Wagner | Kerry Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 47 | Leads: 86 |
| Losses not scored | 40 | 75 |
| Games | Leads: 853 | 446 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 178 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 11 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 5 |
| Saves | Leads: 422 | 63 |
| Strikeouts | 1,196 | Leads: 1,582 |
| Walks not scored | 300 | 666 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 601 | 1,083 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 82 | 148 |
| Innings Pitched | 903.0 | Leads: 1,380.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.31 | 3.67 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.00 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 11.92 | 10.32 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.99 | 4.34 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Billy Wagner outpaces Kerry Wood 38,470 to 20,852 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,263 PIV per season to 1,390, across 17 seasons to 15. 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.
Kerry Wood — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Billy Wagner leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Kerry Wood owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. 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 Kerry Wood careers compare
From 1998 through 2010, Billy Wagner and Kerry Wood were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Billy Wagner appeared in 853 games to Kerry Wood's 446. By rate, Billy Wagner struck out 11.92 and walked 2.99 per nine innings; Kerry Wood struck out 10.32 and walked 4.34. Billy Wagner worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 853 games, 422 saves), while Kerry Wood split time between starting and relief (178 starts in 446 games). Billy Wagner allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.00 WHIP to Kerry Wood's 1.27. Billy Wagner has no qualifying season for the peak list, while Kerry Wood's best is 2003.
Billy Wagner vs Kerry Wood: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Billy Wagner, with 2.31 to Kerry Wood's 3.67.
- Who won more games?
- Kerry Wood, with 86 to Billy Wagner's 47.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Kerry Wood, with 1,582 to Billy Wagner's 1,196.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Billy Wagner, with 1.00 to Kerry Wood's 1.27.