Max Fried vs John Smoltz: Career Stats Comparison
John Smoltz has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Max Fried has played 2017–present as a pitcher; John Smoltz played 1988–2009 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
Max Fried (2017–present) and John Smoltz (1988–2009) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Max Fried has 97 wins and 1,156 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; John Smoltz finished with 213 wins and 3,084 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Max Fried, with 3.01 to John Smoltz's 3.33.
- Who won more games? John Smoltz, with 213 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? John Smoltz, with 3,084 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Fried, with 1.14 to John Smoltz's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? John Smoltz, with 3,473.0 to Max Fried's 1,192.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? John Smoltz, with 16 to Max Fried's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? John Smoltz, with 91,907 career Pitcher PIV to Max Fried's 26,852.
Max Fried
John Smoltz
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 2010s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Max Fried is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Max Fried | John Smoltz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 97 | Leads: 213 |
| Losses not scored | 46 | 155 |
| Games | 220 | Leads: 723 |
| Games Started | 203 | Leads: 481 |
| Complete Games | 6 | Leads: 53 |
| Shutouts | 4 | Leads: 16 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 154 |
| Strikeouts | 1,156 | Leads: 3,084 |
| Walks not scored | 330 | 1,010 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,026 | 3,074 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 94 | 288 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,192.1 | Leads: 3,473.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.33 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.73 | 7.99 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.49 | 2.62 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), John Smoltz outpaces Max Fried 91,907 to 26,852 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 4,178 PIV per season to 2,984, across 22 seasons to 9. 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).
Max Fried — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
John Smoltz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, John Smoltz leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Max Fried owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to John Smoltz. PIV agrees: John Smoltz grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Max Fried and John Smoltz careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: John Smoltz's ended in 2009, and Max Fried debuted in 2017. The table compares 220 games of Max Fried with 723 of John Smoltz across 9 and 22 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Max Fried's edges on the table are ERA (3.01 to 3.33), WHIP (1.14 to 1.18), and strikeouts per nine (8.73 to 7.99). By rate, Max Fried struck out 8.73 and walked 2.49 per nine innings; John Smoltz struck out 7.99 and walked 2.62. Max Fried was mainly a starter (203 starts in 220 games), while John Smoltz split time between starting and relief (481 starts in 723 games). Because Max Fried is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Max Fried vs John Smoltz: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Fried or John Smoltz?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, John Smoltz leads Max Fried in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Max Fried, with 3.01 to John Smoltz's 3.33.
- Who won more games?
- John Smoltz, with 213 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- John Smoltz, with 3,084 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Fried, with 1.14 to John Smoltz's 1.18.