Brandon Webb vs David Wells: Career Stats Comparison
David Wells has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Brandon Webb played 2003–2009 as a pitcher; David Wells played 1987–2007 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
Brandon Webb (2003–2009) and David Wells (1987–2007) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Brandon Webb finished with 87 wins and 1,065 strikeouts; David Wells finished with 239 wins and 2,201 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Brandon Webb, with 3.27 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games? David Wells, with 239 to Brandon Webb's 87.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? David Wells, with 2,201 to Brandon Webb's 1,065.
- Who had the better WHIP? Brandon Webb, with 1.24 to David Wells's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? David Wells, with 3,439.0 to Brandon Webb's 1,319.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? David Wells, with 12 to Brandon Webb's 8.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Brandon Webb, with 32,131 career Pitcher PIV to David Wells's 31,301.
Brandon Webb
David Wells
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 2000s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Brandon Webb | David Wells |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 87 | Leads: 239 |
| Losses not scored | 62 | 157 |
| Games | 199 | Leads: 660 |
| Games Started | 198 | Leads: 489 |
| Complete Games | 15 | Leads: 54 |
| Shutouts | 8 | Leads: 12 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 13 |
| Strikeouts | 1,065 | Leads: 2,201 |
| Walks not scored | 435 | 719 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,200 | 3,635 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 92 | 407 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,319.2 | Leads: 3,439.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.27 | 4.13 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.24 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.26 | 5.76 |
| BB/9 | 2.97 | Leads: 1.88 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Brandon Webb edges David Wells 32,131 to 31,301 — driven by per-season impact — 4,590 PIV per season to 1,304 — rather than by longevity, since Brandon Webb played 7 seasons to David Wells's 24. 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).
Brandon Webb — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
David Wells — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Brandon Webb leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while David Wells owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Brandon Webb. PIV agrees: Brandon Webb grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Brandon Webb and David Wells careers compare
From 2003 through 2007, Brandon Webb and David Wells were in the majors together. The table compares 199 games of Brandon Webb with 660 of David Wells across 7 and 24 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Where Brandon Webb comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.27 to 4.13), WHIP (1.24 to 1.27), and strikeouts per nine (7.26 to 5.76). The per-nine rows read 7.26 strikeouts and 2.97 walks for Brandon Webb, 5.76 and 1.88 for David Wells. Both had the same role: Brandon Webb was mainly a starter (198 starts in 199 games); David Wells was mainly a starter (489 starts in 660 games).
Brandon Webb vs David Wells: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Brandon Webb or David Wells?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, David Wells leads Brandon Webb in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Brandon Webb, with 3.27 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games?
- David Wells, with 239 to Brandon Webb's 87.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- David Wells, with 2,201 to Brandon Webb's 1,065.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Brandon Webb, with 1.24 to David Wells's 1.27.