Robin Roberts vs Max Scherzer: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts 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). Robin Roberts played 1948–1966 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
Robin Roberts (1948–1966) and Max Scherzer (2008–present) — breaking in during the 1940s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Robin Roberts finished with 286 wins and 2,357 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 Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Max Scherzer's 225.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Robin Roberts's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Robin Roberts, with 4,688.2 to Max Scherzer's 3,047.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Robin Roberts, with 45 to Max Scherzer's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Max Scherzer, with 68,491 career Pitcher PIV to Robin Roberts's 49,794.
Robin Roberts
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 1940s 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 | Robin Roberts | Max Scherzer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 286 | 225 |
| Losses not scored | 245 | 126 |
| Games | Leads: 676 | 501 |
| Games Started | Leads: 609 | 492 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 305 | 12 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 45 | 5 |
| Saves | Leads: 25 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,357 | Leads: 3,557 |
| Walks not scored | 902 | 814 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,582 | 2,511 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 505 | 369 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,688.2 | 3,047.2 |
| ERA | 3.41 | Leads: 3.29 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.09 |
| K/9 | 4.52 | Leads: 10.50 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.73 | 2.40 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Max Scherzer outpaces Robin Roberts 68,491 to 49,794 — driven by per-season impact — 3,425 PIV per season to 2,371 — rather than by longevity, since Max Scherzer played 20 seasons to Robin Roberts's 21. 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).
Robin Roberts — 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 strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Robin Roberts owns wins and innings pitched. 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 Robin Roberts and Max Scherzer careers compare
No season is shared: Robin Roberts played 1948–1966, Max Scherzer 2008–present. With 676 games against 501 across 21 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Max Scherzer comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts (3,557 to 2,357), ERA (3.29 to 3.41), and WHIP (1.09 to 1.17). By rate, Robin Roberts struck out 4.52 and walked 1.73 per nine innings; Max Scherzer struck out 10.50 and walked 2.40. Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games), and Max Scherzer was mainly a starter (492 starts in 501 games). The complete-game row, 305 against 12, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games. Because Max Scherzer is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Robin Roberts vs Max Scherzer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Robin Roberts or Max Scherzer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Max Scherzer in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Max Scherzer, with 3.29 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Max Scherzer's 225.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Robin Roberts's 1.17.