Max Scherzer vs Stephen Strasburg: Career Stats Comparison
Max Scherzer has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Max Scherzer has played 2008–present as a pitcher; Stephen Strasburg played 2010–2022 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 Stephen Strasburg (2010–2022) — they debuted in the 2000s and the 2010s respectively and share 13 seasons. Max Scherzer has 225 wins and 3,557 strikeouts through the 2026 season; Stephen Strasburg finished with 113 wins and 1,723 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Max Scherzer, in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Stephen Strasburg, with 3.24 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Max Scherzer, with 225 to Stephen Strasburg's 113.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Stephen Strasburg's 1,723.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Stephen Strasburg's 1.10.
- How many innings did each pitch? Max Scherzer 3,047.2, Stephen Strasburg 1,470.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Max Scherzer, with 5 to Stephen Strasburg's 2.
Max Scherzer
Stephen Strasburg
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Max Scherzer | Stephen Strasburg |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 225 | 113 |
| Losses not scored | 126 | 62 |
| Games not scored | 501 | 247 |
| Games Started not scored | 492 | 247 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 12 | 2 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 5 | 2 |
| Saves not scored | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,557 | 1,723 |
| Walks not scored | 814 | 394 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,511 | 1,217 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 369 | 149 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 3,047.2 | 1,470.0 |
| ERA | 3.29 | Leads: 3.24 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.09 | 1.10 |
| K/9 | 10.50 | Leads: 10.55 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.40 | 2.41 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Max Scherzer outpaces Stephen Strasburg 66,522 to 41,364 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,501 PIV per season to 3,182, across 19 seasons to 13. 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).
Max Scherzer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Stephen Strasburg — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Max Scherzer leads 6 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and others. Stephen Strasburg leads 2: ERA and strikeouts per nine. 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 Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg careers compare
From 2010 through 2022, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg were in the majors together. Max Scherzer has the far longer record, 501 games against 247 across 19 and 13 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Stephen Strasburg comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.24 to 3.29) and strikeouts per nine (10.55 to 10.50). The per-nine rows read 10.50 strikeouts and 2.40 walks for Max Scherzer, 10.55 and 2.41 for Stephen Strasburg. Both had the same role: Max Scherzer was mainly a starter (492 starts in 501 games); Stephen Strasburg was mainly a starter (247 starts in 247 games). In WHIP, Max Scherzer's 1.09 beats Stephen Strasburg's 1.10. Max Scherzer's totals run through the 2026 season.
Max Scherzer vs Stephen Strasburg: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Scherzer or Stephen Strasburg?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Max Scherzer leads Stephen Strasburg in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Stephen Strasburg, with 3.24 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Max Scherzer, with 225 to Stephen Strasburg's 113.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Stephen Strasburg's 1,723.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Stephen Strasburg's 1.10.