Gerrit Cole vs Max Scherzer: Career Stats Comparison
Max Scherzer has the better career line of the two, leading 4 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Gerrit Cole has played 2013–present as a pitcher; Max Scherzer has played 2008–present 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
Gerrit Cole (2013–present) and Max Scherzer (2008–present) — they debuted in the 2010s and the 2000s respectively and share 7987 seasons. Gerrit Cole has 163 wins and 2,382 strikeouts through the 2026 season; Max Scherzer has 225 wins and 3,557 strikeouts through the 2026 season. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Max Scherzer, in 4 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Gerrit Cole, with 3.20 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Max Scherzer, with 225 to Gerrit Cole's 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Gerrit Cole's 2,382.
- Who had the better WHIP? Neither — both are at 1.09.
- How many innings did each pitch? Gerrit Cole 2,081.0, Max Scherzer 3,047.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 5.
Gerrit Cole
Max Scherzer
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. 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 | Gerrit Cole | Max Scherzer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 163 | Leads: 225 |
| Losses not scored | 89 | 126 |
| Games not scored | 339 | 501 |
| Games Started not scored | 339 | 492 |
| Complete Games | 8 | Leads: 12 |
| Shutouts | 5 | 5 |
| Saves not scored | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,382 | Leads: 3,557 |
| Walks not scored | 525 | 814 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,742 | 2,511 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 239 | 369 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 2,081.0 | 3,047.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.20 | 3.29 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.09 | 1.09 |
| K/9 | 10.30 | Leads: 10.50 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.27 | 2.40 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Max Scherzer leads Gerrit Cole 66,522 to 51,727 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Max Scherzer played 19 seasons to Gerrit Cole's 13, while Gerrit Cole carries the higher per-season figure (3,979 to 3,501). 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).
Gerrit Cole — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Max Scherzer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Max Scherzer leads 4 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, strikeouts, and strikeouts per nine. Gerrit Cole leads 3: ERA, WHIP, and walks per nine. 1 is tied. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Max Scherzer. PIV agrees: Max Scherzer grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer careers compare
Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer are both active, and their careers have run side by side since 2013. With 339 games against 501 across 13 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Gerrit Cole's edges on the table are ERA (3.20 to 3.29), WHIP (1.09 to 1.09), and walks per nine (2.27 to 2.40). The per-nine rows read 10.30 strikeouts and 2.27 walks for Gerrit Cole, 10.50 and 2.40 for Max Scherzer. Gerrit Cole was mainly a starter (339 starts in 339 games), and Max Scherzer was mainly a starter (492 starts in 501 games). Gerrit Cole allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.09 WHIP to Max Scherzer's 1.09. Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer's totals run through the 2026 season.
Gerrit Cole vs Max Scherzer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Gerrit Cole or Max Scherzer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Max Scherzer leads Gerrit Cole in 4 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Gerrit Cole, with 3.20 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Max Scherzer, with 225 to Gerrit Cole's 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Gerrit Cole's 2,382.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Neither — both are at 1.09.