Max Scherzer vs Adam Wainwright: 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; Adam Wainwright played 2005–2023 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 Adam Wainwright (2005–2023) — both debuted in the 2000s. Max Scherzer has 225 wins and 3,557 strikeouts through the 2026 season; Adam Wainwright finished with 200 wins and 2,202 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? Max Scherzer, with 3.29 to Adam Wainwright's 3.53.
- Who won more games? Max Scherzer, with 225 to Adam Wainwright's 200.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Adam Wainwright's 2,202.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Adam Wainwright's 1.24.
- How many innings did each pitch? Max Scherzer 3,047.2, Adam Wainwright 2,668.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Adam Wainwright, with 11 to Max Scherzer's 5.
Max Scherzer
Adam Wainwright
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 | Adam Wainwright |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 225 | 200 |
| Losses not scored | 126 | 128 |
| Games not scored | 501 | 478 |
| Games Started not scored | 492 | 411 |
| Complete Games | 12 | Leads: 28 |
| Shutouts | 5 | Leads: 11 |
| Saves not scored | 0 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,557 | 2,202 |
| Walks not scored | 814 | 736 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,511 | 2,577 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 369 | 233 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 3,047.2 | 2,668.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.29 | 3.53 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.09 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.50 | 7.43 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.40 | 2.48 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Max Scherzer outpaces Adam Wainwright 66,522 to 44,617 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,501 PIV per season to 2,479, across 19 seasons to 18. 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)
Adam Wainwright — 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, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and others. Adam Wainwright leads 2: complete games and shutouts. 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 Adam Wainwright careers compare
Max Scherzer and Adam Wainwright were active at the same time between 2008 and 2023. The two careers are close in length, 501 games for Max Scherzer and 478 for Adam Wainwright across 19 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Adam Wainwright comes out ahead, it is in complete games (28 to 12) and shutouts (11 to 5). The per-nine rows read 10.50 strikeouts and 2.40 walks for Max Scherzer, 7.43 and 2.48 for Adam Wainwright. Max Scherzer was mainly a starter (492 starts in 501 games), and Adam Wainwright was mainly a starter (411 starts in 478 games). Max Scherzer's totals run through the 2026 season.
Max Scherzer vs Adam Wainwright: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Scherzer or Adam Wainwright?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Max Scherzer leads Adam Wainwright in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Max Scherzer, with 3.29 to Adam Wainwright's 3.53.
- Who won more games?
- Max Scherzer, with 225 to Adam Wainwright's 200.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Adam Wainwright's 2,202.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Adam Wainwright's 1.24.