Cliff Lee vs Max Scherzer: Career Stats Comparison
Cliff Lee (2002–2014) and Max Scherzer (2008–present) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Cliff Lee compiled 143 wins and 1,824 strikeouts; Max Scherzer put up 221 wins and 3,489 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Cliff Lee | Max Scherzer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 143 | 221 |
| Losses | 91 | 117 |
| Games | 328 | 483 |
| Games Started | 324 | 474 |
| Complete Games | 29 | 12 |
| Shutouts | 12 | 5 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,824 | 3,489 |
| Walks | 464 | 779 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,116 | 2,433 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 223 | 354 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,156 | 2,963 |
| ERA | 3.52 | 3.22 |
| WHIP | 1.20 | 1.08 |
| K/9 | 7.61 | 10.60 |
| BB/9 | 1.94 | 2.37 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Max Scherzer outpaces Cliff Lee 68,491 to 41,719 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (3,425 vs 2,781 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).
Cliff Lee — 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 Cliff Lee 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.