Jimmy Key vs Mike Scott: Career Stats Comparison
Jimmy Key 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). Jimmy Key played 1984–1998 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
Jimmy Key (1984–1998) and Mike Scott (1979–1991) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jimmy Key finished with 186 wins and 1,538 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? Jimmy Key, with 3.51 to Mike Scott's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Jimmy Key, with 186 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jimmy Key, with 1,538 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mike Scott, with 1.20 to Jimmy Key's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Jimmy Key, with 2,591.2 to Mike Scott's 2,068.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Mike Scott, with 22 to Jimmy Key's 13.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mike Scott, with 28,073 career Pitcher PIV to Jimmy Key's 19,114.
Jimmy Key
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 | Jimmy Key | Mike Scott |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 186 | 124 |
| Losses not scored | 117 | 108 |
| Games | Leads: 470 | 347 |
| Games Started | Leads: 389 | 319 |
| Complete Games | 34 | Leads: 45 |
| Shutouts | 13 | Leads: 22 |
| Saves | Leads: 10 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,538 | 1,469 |
| Walks not scored | 668 | 627 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,518 | 1,858 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 254 | 173 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,591.2 | 2,068.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.51 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.20 |
| K/9 | 5.34 | Leads: 6.39 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.32 | 2.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mike Scott outpaces Jimmy Key 28,073 to 19,114 — driven by per-season impact — 2,159 PIV per season to 1,274 — rather than by longevity, since Mike Scott played 13 seasons to Jimmy Key's 15. 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).
Jimmy Key — 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, Jimmy Key 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 Jimmy Key. Note that PIV actually grades Mike Scott ahead, which means Jimmy Key's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jimmy Key and Mike Scott careers compare
From 1984 through 1991, Jimmy Key and Mike Scott were in the majors together. With 470 games against 347 across 15 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Mike Scott are complete games (45 to 34), shutouts (22 to 13), and WHIP (1.20 to 1.23). The per-nine rows read 5.34 strikeouts and 2.32 walks for Jimmy Key, 6.39 and 2.73 for Mike Scott. Both had the same role: Jimmy Key was mainly a starter (389 starts in 470 games); Mike Scott was mainly a starter (319 starts in 347 games). Mike Scott allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.20 WHIP to Jimmy Key's 1.23.
Jimmy Key vs Mike Scott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jimmy Key or Mike Scott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jimmy Key leads Mike Scott in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jimmy Key, with 3.51 to Mike Scott's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Jimmy Key, with 186 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jimmy Key, with 1,538 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mike Scott, with 1.20 to Jimmy Key's 1.23.