Max Scherzer vs Adam Wainwright: Career Stats Comparison
Max Scherzer (2008–present) and Adam Wainwright (2005–present) — both came up during the 2000s, so the matchup is a direct one. Max Scherzer compiled 221 wins and 3,489 strikeouts; Adam Wainwright put up 200 wins and 2,202 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Max Scherzer | Adam Wainwright |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 221 | 200 |
| Losses | 117 | 128 |
| Games | 483 | 478 |
| Games Started | 474 | 411 |
| Complete Games | 12 | 28 |
| Shutouts | 5 | 11 |
| Saves | 0 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | 3,489 | 2,202 |
| Walks | 779 | 736 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,433 | 2,577 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 354 | 233 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,963 | 2,668 |
| ERA | 3.22 | 3.53 |
| WHIP | 1.08 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | 10.60 | 7.43 |
| BB/9 | 2.37 | 2.48 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Max Scherzer outpaces Adam Wainwright 68,491 to 44,617 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (3,425 vs 2,479 per year). 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
On the head-to-head card, Max Scherzer leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Adam Wainwright owns no headline categories. 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.