Craig Kimbrel vs. Cliff Lee — Career Comparison

Craig Kimbrel
MillenialAlabamaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaHouston AstrosAmerican LeagueRelief PitcherRookie of the YearAll-Star
Cliff Lee
Gen XArkansasThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaCleveland GuardiansAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherCy Young AwardAll-Star

Cliff Lee built a career as a starting pitcher and Craig Kimbrel as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Craig Kimbrel led in home run suppression (HR9+ 122 vs 94), strikeout rate (K%+ 144 vs 120), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 119 vs 113). Cliff Lee held the edge in walk avoidance (BB%+ 147 vs 77). Role difference aside, Craig Kimbrel holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.

Pitching Stats for Craig Kimbrel and Cliff Lee

Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
16
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
13
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
851
9.32
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
328
1.37
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
324
1.35
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
56
0.61
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
143
0.6
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
48
0.53
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
91
0.38
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
53.85
53.85
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
61.11
61.11
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
98.78
98.78
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
29
0.12
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.05
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
440
4.82
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
236
2.58
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
843
3.52
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.59
2.59
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.52
3.52
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.18
2.18
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.37
3.37
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.48
2.48
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.37
3.37
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.17
0.17
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.255
0.255
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
2465
27
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6470
27
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
821.2
9
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2156.2
9
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
492
5.39
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
2116
8.83
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.39
5.39
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.83
8.83
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
75
0.82
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
223
0.93
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.82
0.82
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.93
0.93
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.09
0.09
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.68
0.68
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
346
3.79
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
464
1.94
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11
0.12
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.05
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.79
3.79
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.94
1.94
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1282
14.04
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1824
7.61
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14.04
14.04
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
7.61
7.61
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.51
1.51
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.56
5.56
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.981
1.981
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.061
1.061
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
70
0.77
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41
0.17
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
40
0.44
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
0.21
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.05
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.01
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
3306
36.21
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8917
37.21
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
656
7.19
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
263
2.88
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
923
3.85
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.88
2.88
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.85
3.85
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.1
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
53
0.22
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
0.15
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
54
0.23
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
33
0.36
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
166
0.69
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.02
1.02
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.196
1.196
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
2897
31.73
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8296
34.62
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.31
0.31
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.81
2.81
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.271
0.271
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.303
0.303
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
36.21
36.21
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.21
37.21

Fielding Stats for Craig Kimbrel and Cliff Lee

Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
16
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
13
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
851
9.32
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
328
1.37
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
324
1.35
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
2465
27
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6470
27
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
821.2
9
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2156.2
9
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
33
0.36
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
83
0.35
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
47
0.51
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
188
0.78
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.04
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
0.08
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
84
0.92
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
289
1.21
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
80
0.88
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
271
1.13
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
95.24
95.24
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
93.77
93.77
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.094
0.094
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.826
0.826
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
98.78
98.78
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.02
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.05
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Craig Kimbrel and Cliff Lee

Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
16
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
13
13
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
851
255300
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
337
629.91
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
2
600
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
321
600
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
600
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
291
543.93
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.175
0.175
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.468
0.468
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
51
95.33
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
41
76.64
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
13.08
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.87
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.74
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
10
18.69
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.196
0.196
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.007
0.007
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.039
0.039
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12.47
23.32
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
66
123.36
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
56
104.67
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.189
0.189
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.227
0.227
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.415
0.415
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.052
0.052
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.142
0.142
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.298
0.298
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.272
0.272
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
18
33.64
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
19
35.51
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
35
65.42
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.22
-66.4
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8.75
16.36
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
9.35
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
600
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PAverified
110
205.61
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.92
2.92
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.05
0.05
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
24
44.86
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.87
Craig Kimbrel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
3
5.61
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.74
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.74
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
7.48
Craig Kimbrel
Career
Per 600 PA
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
50
50