Corey Kluber vs Max Scherzer: Career Stats Comparison
Max Scherzer 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). Corey Kluber played 2011–2023 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
Corey Kluber (2011–2023) and Max Scherzer (2008–present) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Corey Kluber finished with 116 wins and 1,725 strikeouts; Max Scherzer has 225 wins and 3,557 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Max Scherzer, with 3.29 to Corey Kluber's 3.44.
- Who won more games? Max Scherzer, with 225 to Corey Kluber's 116.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Corey Kluber's 1,725.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Corey Kluber's 1.13.
- Who pitched more innings? Max Scherzer, with 3,047.2 to Corey Kluber's 1,641.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Corey Kluber, with 8 to Max Scherzer's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Max Scherzer, with 68,491 career Pitcher PIV to Corey Kluber's 36,049.
Corey Kluber
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. 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 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Max Scherzer is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Corey Kluber | Max Scherzer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 116 | Leads: 225 |
| Losses not scored | 77 | 126 |
| Games | 271 | Leads: 501 |
| Games Started | 260 | Leads: 492 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 18 | 12 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 8 | 5 |
| Saves | Leads: 1 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,725 | Leads: 3,557 |
| Walks not scored | 368 | 814 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,486 | 2,511 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 177 | 369 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,641.2 | Leads: 3,047.2 |
| ERA | 3.44 | Leads: 3.29 |
| WHIP | 1.13 | Leads: 1.09 |
| K/9 | 9.46 | Leads: 10.50 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.02 | 2.40 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Max Scherzer outpaces Corey Kluber 68,491 to 36,049 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,425 PIV per season to 2,773, across 20 seasons to 13. 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).
Corey Kluber — 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, Max Scherzer leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Corey Kluber owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Max Scherzer. PIV agrees: Max Scherzer grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Corey Kluber and Max Scherzer careers compare
From 2011 through 2023, Corey Kluber and Max Scherzer were in the majors together. The table compares 271 games of Corey Kluber with 501 of Max Scherzer across 13 and 20 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Corey Kluber's edges on the table are complete games (18 to 12), shutouts (8 to 5), and saves (1 to 0). By rate, Corey Kluber struck out 9.46 and walked 2.02 per nine innings; Max Scherzer struck out 10.50 and walked 2.40. Both had the same role: Corey Kluber was mainly a starter (260 starts in 271 games); Max Scherzer was mainly a starter (492 starts in 501 games). Because Max Scherzer is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Corey Kluber vs Max Scherzer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Corey Kluber or Max Scherzer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Max Scherzer leads Corey Kluber in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Max Scherzer, with 3.29 to Corey Kluber's 3.44.
- Who won more games?
- Max Scherzer, with 225 to Corey Kluber's 116.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Corey Kluber's 1,725.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Corey Kluber's 1.13.