Chuck Finley vs Mike Scott: Career Stats Comparison
Chuck Finley has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Chuck Finley played 1986–2002 as a pitcher; Mike Scott played 1979–1991 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
Chuck Finley (1986–2002) and Mike Scott (1979–1991) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Chuck Finley finished with 200 wins and 2,610 strikeouts; Mike Scott finished with 124 wins and 1,469 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Mike Scott, with 3.54 to Chuck Finley's 3.85.
- Who won more games? Chuck Finley, with 200 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Chuck Finley, with 2,610 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mike Scott, with 1.20 to Chuck Finley's 1.38.
- Who pitched more innings? Chuck Finley, with 3,197.1 to Mike Scott's 2,068.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Mike Scott, with 22 to Chuck Finley's 15.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mike Scott, with 28,073 career Pitcher PIV to Chuck Finley's 27,776.
Chuck Finley
Mike Scott
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 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Chuck Finley | Mike Scott |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 200 | 124 |
| Losses not scored | 173 | 108 |
| Games | Leads: 524 | 347 |
| Games Started | Leads: 467 | 319 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 63 | 45 |
| Shutouts | 15 | Leads: 22 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,610 | 1,469 |
| Walks not scored | 1,332 | 627 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,069 | 1,858 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 304 | 173 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,197.1 | 2,068.2 |
| ERA | 3.85 | Leads: 3.54 |
| WHIP | 1.38 | Leads: 1.20 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.35 | 6.39 |
| BB/9 | 3.75 | Leads: 2.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mike Scott edges Chuck Finley 28,073 to 27,776 — driven by per-season impact — 2,159 PIV per season to 1,543 — rather than by longevity, since Mike Scott played 13 seasons to Chuck Finley's 18. 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).
Chuck Finley — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Mike Scott — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Chuck Finley leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Mike Scott owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Chuck Finley. Note that PIV actually grades Mike Scott ahead, which means Chuck Finley's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Chuck Finley and Mike Scott careers compare
Chuck Finley and Mike Scott were active at the same time between 1986 and 1991. Chuck Finley has the far longer record, 524 games against 347 across 18 and 13 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. The per-nine rows read 7.35 strikeouts and 3.75 walks for Chuck Finley, 6.39 and 2.73 for Mike Scott. Both had the same role: Chuck Finley was mainly a starter (467 starts in 524 games); Mike Scott was mainly a starter (319 starts in 347 games). In WHIP, Mike Scott's 1.20 beats Chuck Finley's 1.38.
Chuck Finley vs Mike Scott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Chuck Finley or Mike Scott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Chuck Finley leads Mike Scott in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mike Scott, with 3.54 to Chuck Finley's 3.85.
- Who won more games?
- Chuck Finley, with 200 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Chuck Finley, with 2,610 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mike Scott, with 1.20 to Chuck Finley's 1.38.