Max Scherzer vs Zack Wheeler: Career Stats Comparison
Max Scherzer 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; Zack Wheeler has played 2013–present 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 Zack Wheeler (2013–present) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Max Scherzer has 225 wins and 3,557 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Zack Wheeler has 127 wins and 2,013 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Zack Wheeler, with 3.26 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Max Scherzer, with 225 to Zack Wheeler's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Zack Wheeler's 1.13.
- Who pitched more innings? Max Scherzer, with 3,047.2 to Zack Wheeler's 1,890.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Max Scherzer, with 5 to Zack Wheeler's 3.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Max Scherzer, with 68,491 career Pitcher PIV to Zack Wheeler's 39,270.
Max Scherzer
Zack Wheeler
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 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Max Scherzer and Zack Wheeler are still active — their totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Max Scherzer | Zack Wheeler |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 225 | 127 |
| Losses not scored | 126 | 80 |
| Games | Leads: 501 | 311 |
| Games Started | Leads: 492 | 311 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 12 | 5 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 5 | 3 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,557 | 2,013 |
| Walks not scored | 814 | 537 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,511 | 1,598 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 369 | 187 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,047.2 | 1,890.1 |
| ERA | 3.29 | Leads: 3.26 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.09 | 1.13 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.50 | 9.58 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.40 | 2.56 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Max Scherzer outpaces Zack Wheeler 68,491 to 39,270 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Max Scherzer played 20 seasons to Zack Wheeler's 11, while Zack Wheeler carries the higher per-season figure (3,570 to 3,425). 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)
Zack Wheeler — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Max Scherzer leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Zack Wheeler owns ERA. 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.
Related Matchups
How the Max Scherzer and Zack Wheeler careers compare
Max Scherzer and Zack Wheeler are both active, and their careers have run side by side since 2013. Max Scherzer has the far longer record, 501 games against 311 across 20 and 11 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Zack Wheeler's edges on the table are ERA (3.26 to 3.29). By rate, Max Scherzer struck out 10.50 and walked 2.40 per nine innings; Zack Wheeler struck out 9.58 and walked 2.56. Max Scherzer was mainly a starter (492 starts in 501 games), and Zack Wheeler was mainly a starter (311 starts in 311 games). In WHIP, Max Scherzer's 1.09 beats Zack Wheeler's 1.13. Max Scherzer and Zack Wheeler's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Max Scherzer vs Zack Wheeler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Scherzer or Zack Wheeler?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Max Scherzer leads Zack Wheeler in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Zack Wheeler, with 3.26 to Max Scherzer's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Max Scherzer, with 225 to Zack Wheeler's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Max Scherzer, with 3,557 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Scherzer, with 1.09 to Zack Wheeler's 1.13.