Adam Wainwright vs Zack Wheeler: Career Stats Comparison
Adam Wainwright (2005–present) and Zack Wheeler (2013–present) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Adam Wainwright compiled 200 wins and 2,202 strikeouts; Zack Wheeler put up 113 wins and 1,820 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Adam Wainwright
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Adam Wainwright | Zack Wheeler |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 200 | 113 |
| Losses | 128 | 75 |
| Games | 478 | 283 |
| Games Started | 411 | 283 |
| Complete Games | 28 | 5 |
| Shutouts | 11 | 3 |
| Saves | 3 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,202 | 1,820 |
| Walks | 736 | 490 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,577 | 1,475 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 233 | 166 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,668 | 1,728 |
| ERA | 3.53 | 3.28 |
| WHIP | 1.24 | 1.14 |
| K/9 | 7.43 | 9.48 |
| BB/9 | 2.48 | 2.55 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Adam Wainwright leads Zack Wheeler 44,617 to 39,270 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,479 vs 3,570 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Adam Wainwright — 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, Adam Wainwright leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Zack Wheeler owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Adam Wainwright. PIV agrees: Adam Wainwright grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.