Pedro Martinez vs Max Scherzer: Career Stats Comparison
Max Scherzer has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Pedro Martinez played 1992–2009 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
Pedro Martinez (1992–2009) and Max Scherzer (2008–present) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Pedro Martinez finished with 219 wins and 3,154 strikeouts; Max Scherzer has 225 wins and 3,557 strikeouts through October 6, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Pedro Martinez, with 2.93 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Max Scherzer, with 225 to Pedro Martinez's 219.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Pedro Martinez's 3,154.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pedro Martinez, with 1.05 to Max Scherzer's 1.09.
- Who pitched more innings? Max Scherzer, with 3,047.2 to Pedro Martinez's 2,827.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pedro Martinez, with 17 to Max Scherzer's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pedro Martinez, with 113,314 career Pitcher PIV to Max Scherzer's 68,491.
Pedro Martinez
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 1990s 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 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Pedro Martinez | Max Scherzer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 219 | Leads: 225 |
| Losses not scored | 100 | 126 |
| Games | 476 | Leads: 501 |
| Games Started | 409 | Leads: 492 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 46 | 12 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 17 | 5 |
| Saves | Leads: 3 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 3,154 | Leads: 3,557 |
| Walks not scored | 760 | 814 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,221 | 2,511 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 239 | 369 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,827.1 | Leads: 3,047.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.93 | 3.29 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.05 | 1.09 |
| K/9 | 10.04 | Leads: 10.50 |
| BB/9 | 2.42 | Leads: 2.40 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pedro Martinez outpaces Max Scherzer 113,314 to 68,491 — driven by per-season impact — 6,295 PIV per season to 3,425 — rather than by longevity, since Pedro Martinez played 18 seasons to Max Scherzer's 20. 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).
Pedro Martinez — 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, K/9, and innings pitched, while Pedro Martinez owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Max Scherzer. Note that PIV actually grades Pedro Martinez ahead, which means Max Scherzer's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Pedro Martinez and Max Scherzer careers compare
From 2008 through 2009, Pedro Martinez and Max Scherzer were in the majors together. With 476 games against 501 across 18 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Pedro Martinez struck out 10.04 and walked 2.42 per nine innings; Max Scherzer struck out 10.50 and walked 2.40. Both had the same role: Pedro Martinez was mainly a starter (409 starts in 476 games); Max Scherzer was mainly a starter (492 starts in 501 games). Pedro Martinez allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.05 WHIP to Max Scherzer's 1.09. Max Scherzer's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Pedro Martinez vs Max Scherzer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pedro Martinez or Max Scherzer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Max Scherzer leads Pedro Martinez in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pedro Martinez, with 2.93 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Max Scherzer, with 225 to Pedro Martinez's 219.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Pedro Martinez's 3,154.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pedro Martinez, with 1.05 to Max Scherzer's 1.09.