Clayton Kershaw vs Max Scherzer: Career Stats Comparison
Clayton Kershaw has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 11 statistical categories compared on this page. Clayton Kershaw has played 2008–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
Clayton Kershaw (2008–present) and Max Scherzer (2008–present) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Clayton Kershaw compiled 223 wins and 3,052 strikeouts; Max Scherzer put up 221 wins and 3,489 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Max Scherzer's 3.22.
- Who won more games? Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Max Scherzer's 221.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Max Scherzer, with 3,489 to Clayton Kershaw's 3,052.
- Who had the better WHIP? Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Max Scherzer's 1.08.
- Who pitched more innings? Max Scherzer, with 2,963 to Clayton Kershaw's 2,855.
- Who threw more shutouts? Clayton Kershaw, with 15 to Max Scherzer's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Clayton Kershaw, with 93,455 career Pitcher PIV to Max Scherzer's 68,491.
Clayton Kershaw
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Clayton Kershaw | Max Scherzer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 223 | 221 |
| Losses | 96 | 117 |
| Games | 455 | Leads: 483 |
| Games Started | 451 | Leads: 474 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 25 | 12 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 15 | 5 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 3,052 | Leads: 3,489 |
| Walks | 713 | 779 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,193 | 2,433 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 235 | 354 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,855 | Leads: 2,963 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.53 | 3.22 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.02 | 1.08 |
| K/9 | 9.62 | Leads: 10.60 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.25 | 2.37 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Clayton Kershaw outpaces Max Scherzer 93,455 to 68,491 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (5,192 vs 3,425 per year). 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).
Clayton Kershaw — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Max Scherzer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Clayton Kershaw leads in wins, ERA, and WHIP, while Max Scherzer owns strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Clayton Kershaw. PIV agrees: Clayton Kershaw grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Clayton Kershaw vs Max Scherzer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Clayton Kershaw or Max Scherzer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Clayton Kershaw leads Max Scherzer in 6 of 11 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 2.53 to Max Scherzer's 3.22.
- Who won more games?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 223 to Max Scherzer's 221.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Max Scherzer, with 3,489 to Clayton Kershaw's 3,052.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Clayton Kershaw, with 1.02 to Max Scherzer's 1.08.