Max Scherzer vs Curt Schilling: Career Stats Comparison
Max Scherzer and Curt Schilling are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Max Scherzer has played 2008–present as a pitcher; Curt Schilling played 1988–2007 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
Max Scherzer (2008–present) and Curt Schilling (1988–2007) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Max Scherzer has 225 wins and 3,557 strikeouts through October 6, 2026; Curt Schilling finished with 216 wins and 3,116 strikeouts. 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 Curt Schilling's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Max Scherzer, with 225 to Curt Schilling's 216.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Curt Schilling's 3,116.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Curt Schilling's 1.14.
- Who pitched more innings? Curt Schilling, with 3,261.0 to Max Scherzer's 3,047.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Curt Schilling, with 20 to Max Scherzer's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Curt Schilling, with 98,246 career Pitcher PIV to Max Scherzer's 68,491.
Max Scherzer
Curt Schilling
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 2000s and the 1980s 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 | Max Scherzer | Curt Schilling |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 225 | 216 |
| Losses not scored | 126 | 146 |
| Games | 501 | Leads: 569 |
| Games Started | Leads: 492 | 436 |
| Complete Games | 12 | Leads: 83 |
| Shutouts | 5 | Leads: 20 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 22 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,557 | 3,116 |
| Walks not scored | 814 | 711 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,511 | 2,998 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 369 | 347 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,047.2 | Leads: 3,261.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.29 | 3.46 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.09 | 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.50 | 8.60 |
| BB/9 | 2.40 | Leads: 1.96 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Curt Schilling outpaces Max Scherzer 98,246 to 68,491 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 4,678 PIV per season to 3,425, across 21 seasons to 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).
Max Scherzer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Curt Schilling — 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 Curt Schilling owns innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Max Scherzer. Note that PIV actually grades Curt Schilling 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 Max Scherzer and Curt Schilling careers compare
No season is shared: Curt Schilling played 1988–2007, Max Scherzer 2008–present. With 501 games against 569 across 20 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Max Scherzer struck out 10.50 and walked 2.40 per nine innings; Curt Schilling struck out 8.60 and walked 1.96. Max Scherzer was mainly a starter (492 starts in 501 games), and Curt Schilling was mainly a starter (436 starts in 569 games). The complete-game row, 12 against 83, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games. Max Scherzer allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.09 WHIP to Curt Schilling's 1.14. Because Max Scherzer is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Max Scherzer vs Curt Schilling: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Max Scherzer, with 3.29 to Curt Schilling's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Max Scherzer, with 225 to Curt Schilling's 216.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Curt Schilling's 3,116.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Curt Schilling's 1.14.