Orel Hershiser vs Mike Scott: Career Stats Comparison
Orel Hershiser has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Orel Hershiser played 1983–2000 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
Orel Hershiser (1983–2000) and Mike Scott (1979–1991) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Orel Hershiser finished with 204 wins and 2,014 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? Orel Hershiser, with 3.48 to Mike Scott's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Orel Hershiser, with 2,014 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mike Scott, with 1.20 to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Orel Hershiser, with 3,130.1 to Mike Scott's 2,068.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Orel Hershiser, with 25 to Mike Scott's 22.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Orel Hershiser, with 37,276 career Pitcher PIV to Mike Scott's 28,073.
Orel Hershiser
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 | Orel Hershiser | Mike Scott |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 204 | 124 |
| Losses not scored | 150 | 108 |
| Games | Leads: 510 | 347 |
| Games Started | Leads: 466 | 319 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 68 | 45 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 25 | 22 |
| Saves | Leads: 5 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,014 | 1,469 |
| Walks not scored | 1,007 | 627 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,939 | 1,858 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 235 | 173 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,130.1 | 2,068.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.48 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.20 |
| K/9 | 5.79 | Leads: 6.39 |
| BB/9 | 2.90 | Leads: 2.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Orel Hershiser leads Mike Scott 37,276 to 28,073 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Orel Hershiser played 18 seasons to Mike Scott's 13, while Mike Scott carries the higher per-season figure (2,159 to 2,071). 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).
Orel Hershiser — 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, Orel Hershiser leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Mike Scott owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Orel Hershiser. PIV agrees: Orel Hershiser grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Orel Hershiser and Mike Scott careers compare
Orel Hershiser and Mike Scott were active at the same time between 1983 and 1991. With 510 games against 347 across 18 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Mike Scott's edges on the table are WHIP (1.20 to 1.26), strikeouts per nine (6.39 to 5.79), and walks per nine (2.73 to 2.90). By rate, Orel Hershiser struck out 5.79 and walked 2.90 per nine innings; Mike Scott struck out 6.39 and walked 2.73. Both had the same role: Orel Hershiser was mainly a starter (466 starts in 510 games); Mike Scott was mainly a starter (319 starts in 347 games). In WHIP, Mike Scott's 1.20 beats Orel Hershiser's 1.26.
Orel Hershiser vs Mike Scott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Orel Hershiser or Mike Scott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Orel Hershiser leads Mike Scott in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Orel Hershiser, with 3.48 to Mike Scott's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Orel Hershiser, with 2,014 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mike Scott, with 1.20 to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.