Max Fried vs Stephen Strasburg: Career Stats Comparison
Stephen Strasburg 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; Stephen Strasburg played 2010–2022 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 Stephen Strasburg (2010–2022) — both came up during the 2010s, so the matchup is a direct one. Max Fried has 97 wins and 1,156 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Stephen Strasburg finished with 113 wins and 1,723 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 Stephen Strasburg's 3.24.
- Who won more games? Stephen Strasburg, with 113 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Stephen Strasburg, with 1,723 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP? Stephen Strasburg, with 1.10 to Max Fried's 1.14.
- Who pitched more innings? Stephen Strasburg, with 1,470.0 to Max Fried's 1,192.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Max Fried, with 4 to Stephen Strasburg's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Stephen Strasburg, with 41,364 career Pitcher PIV to Max Fried's 26,852.
Max Fried
Stephen Strasburg
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, 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 | Stephen Strasburg |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 97 | Leads: 113 |
| Losses not scored | 46 | 62 |
| Games | 220 | Leads: 247 |
| Games Started | 203 | Leads: 247 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 6 | 2 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 4 | 2 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,156 | Leads: 1,723 |
| Walks not scored | 330 | 394 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,026 | 1,217 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 94 | 149 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,192.1 | Leads: 1,470.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.24 |
| WHIP | 1.14 | Leads: 1.10 |
| K/9 | 8.73 | Leads: 10.55 |
| BB/9 | 2.49 | Leads: 2.41 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Stephen Strasburg outpaces Max Fried 41,364 to 26,852 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,182 PIV per season to 2,984, across 13 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)
Stephen Strasburg — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Stephen Strasburg leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Max Fried owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Stephen Strasburg. PIV agrees: Stephen Strasburg 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 Stephen Strasburg careers compare
Max Fried and Stephen Strasburg were active at the same time between 2017 and 2022. The two careers are close in length, 220 games for Max Fried and 247 for Stephen Strasburg across 9 and 13 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Max Fried's edges on the table are complete games (6 to 2), shutouts (4 to 2), and ERA (3.01 to 3.24). By rate, Max Fried struck out 8.73 and walked 2.49 per nine innings; Stephen Strasburg struck out 10.55 and walked 2.41. Both had the same role: Max Fried was mainly a starter (203 starts in 220 games); Stephen Strasburg was mainly a starter (247 starts in 247 games). Because Max Fried is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Max Fried vs Stephen Strasburg: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Fried or Stephen Strasburg?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Stephen Strasburg leads Max Fried in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Max Fried, with 3.01 to Stephen Strasburg's 3.24.
- Who won more games?
- Stephen Strasburg, with 113 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Stephen Strasburg, with 1,723 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Stephen Strasburg, with 1.10 to Max Fried's 1.14.