Max Scherzer vs Don Sutton: Career Stats Comparison
Don Sutton has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Max Scherzer has played 2008–present as a pitcher; Don Sutton played 1966–1988 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 Don Sutton (1966–1988) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Max Scherzer has 225 wins and 3,557 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Don Sutton finished with 324 wins and 3,574 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Don Sutton, with 3.26 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Don Sutton, with 324 to Max Scherzer's 225.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Don Sutton, with 3,574 to Max Scherzer's 3,557.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Don Sutton's 1.14.
- Who pitched more innings? Don Sutton, with 5,282.1 to Max Scherzer's 3,047.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Don Sutton, with 58 to Max Scherzer's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Max Scherzer, with 68,491 career Pitcher PIV to Don Sutton's 63,310.
Max Scherzer
Don Sutton
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 1960s 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 | Max Scherzer | Don Sutton |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 225 | Leads: 324 |
| Losses not scored | 126 | 256 |
| Games | 501 | Leads: 774 |
| Games Started | 492 | Leads: 756 |
| Complete Games | 12 | Leads: 178 |
| Shutouts | 5 | Leads: 58 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 5 |
| Strikeouts | 3,557 | Leads: 3,574 |
| Walks not scored | 814 | 1,343 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,511 | 4,692 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 369 | 472 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,047.2 | Leads: 5,282.1 |
| ERA | 3.29 | Leads: 3.26 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.09 | 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.50 | 6.09 |
| BB/9 | 2.40 | Leads: 2.29 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Max Scherzer edges Don Sutton 68,491 to 63,310 — driven by per-season impact — 3,425 PIV per season to 2,532 — rather than by longevity, since Max Scherzer played 20 seasons to Don Sutton's 25. 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)
Don Sutton — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Don Sutton leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Max Scherzer owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Don Sutton. Note that PIV actually grades Max Scherzer ahead, which means Don Sutton's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Max Scherzer and Don Sutton careers compare
No season is shared: Don Sutton played 1966–1988, Max Scherzer 2008–present. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Max Scherzer has appeared in 501 games to Don Sutton's 774. Max Scherzer's edges on the table are WHIP (1.09 to 1.14) and strikeouts per nine (10.50 to 6.09). By rate, Max Scherzer struck out 10.50 and walked 2.40 per nine innings; Don Sutton struck out 6.09 and walked 2.29. Max Scherzer was mainly a starter (492 starts in 501 games), and Don Sutton was mainly a starter (756 starts in 774 games). Complete games (12 to 178) show how differently the two eras used starters. Because Max Scherzer is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Max Scherzer vs Don Sutton: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Scherzer or Don Sutton?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Don Sutton leads Max Scherzer in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Don Sutton, with 3.26 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Don Sutton, with 324 to Max Scherzer's 225.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Don Sutton, with 3,574 to Max Scherzer's 3,557.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Don Sutton's 1.14.