Walter Johnson vs. Lance McCullers — Career Comparison

Lost GenerationKansasThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaWashington SenatorsAmerican LeagueHall of FameStarting PitcherMVP
Baby BoomersFloridaThrows RightBats SwitchNorth AmericaSan Diego PadresNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Walter Johnson built a career as a starting pitcher and Lance McCullers as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Walter Johnson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.17 and WHIP 1.061 compared to 3.25 and 1.370 for Lance McCullers. By the career numbers, Walter Johnson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Walter Johnson and Lance McCullers

Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
21
21
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
7
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
802
1.22
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
306
5.23
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
666
1.01
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.15
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
417
0.63
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
28
0.48
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
279
0.42
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
31
0.53
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
59.91
59.91
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
47.46
47.46
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
83.04
83.04
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.94
2.94
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
531
0.81
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
110
0.17
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
34
0.05
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39
0.67
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1424
2.17
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
190
3.25
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.17
2.17
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.25
3.25
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.19
2.19
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.23
3.23
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.82
2.82
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.97
3.97
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.223
0.223
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.223
0.223
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
17744
27
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1579
27
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5914.2
9
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
526.1
9
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4913
7.48
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
427
7.3
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
7.48
7.48
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.3
7.3
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
97
0.15
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
47
0.8
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.15
0.15
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.8
0.8
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.12
0.12
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.15
0.15
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1363
2.07
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
252
4.31
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
42
0.72
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.07
2.07
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.31
4.31
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3509
5.34
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
442
7.56
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.34
5.34
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.56
7.56
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.38
4.38
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.44
1.44
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.824
0.824
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.319
1.319
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
155
0.24
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
21
0.36
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
203
0.31
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.17
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.01
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.12
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
23642
35.97
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2221
37.98
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
129
0.2
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
155
2.65
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1902
2.89
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
219
3.74
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.89
2.89
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.74
3.74
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
31
0.53
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
16
0.27
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
0.44
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.061
1.061
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.29
1.29
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22076
33.59
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1912
32.69
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.37
2.37
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.72
0.72
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.261
0.261
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.267
0.267
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
35.97
35.97
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.98
37.98

Fielding Stats for Walter Johnson and Lance McCullers

Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
21
21
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
7
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
815
7.07
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
306
5.23
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
120
1.04
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.15
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3114
27
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
1579
27
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1038
9
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
526.1
9
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
292
2.53
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
33
0.56
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1352
11.72
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
67
1.15
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
53
0.46
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.17
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1697
14.71
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
110
1.88
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1644
14.25
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
1.71
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.88
96.88
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
90.91
90.91
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.017
2.017
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.327
0.327
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14.72
14.72
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.94
2.94
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
72
0.62
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.07
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Walter Johnson and Lance McCullers

Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21
21
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
7
7
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
933
222.41
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
312
3172.88
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2517
600
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
59
600
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2324
553.99
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
48
488.14
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.235
0.235
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.104
0.104
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.637
0.637
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.447
0.447
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
547
130.39
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
5
50.85
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
388
92.49
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
3
30.51
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
94
22.41
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
2
20.34
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
41
9.77
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
24
5.72
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
159
37.9
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
2
20.34
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.291
0.291
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.4
0.4
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.01
0.01
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.044
0.044
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
225.36
53.72
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
1.73
17.63
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
795
189.51
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
7
71.19
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
670
159.71
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
10
101.69
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.274
0.274
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.189
0.189
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.342
0.342
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.146
0.146
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.616
0.616
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.335
0.335
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.107
0.107
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.042
0.042
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.209
0.209
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.121
0.121
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.523
0.523
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.302
0.302
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.278
0.278
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.2
0.2
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
241
57.45
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
5
50.85
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
255
60.79
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
4
40.68
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
472
112.51
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
9
91.53
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
241.78
57.63
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.6
6.14
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
3.1
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
110
26.22
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
5
50.85
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
419
99.88
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
23
233.9
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6.01
6.01
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
2.57
2.57
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.26
0.26
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0.22
0.22
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
70
16.69
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
6
61.02
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
13
3.1
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
10.17
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
0.95
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
17
4.05
Lance McCullers
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
10.17
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
76.47
76.47
Lance McCullers
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100