Curt Schilling vs John Smoltz: Career Stats Comparison
Curt Schilling has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Curt Schilling played 1988–2007 as a pitcher; John Smoltz played 1988–2009 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
Curt Schilling (1988–2007) and John Smoltz (1988–2009) — both debuted in the 1980s. Curt Schilling finished with 216 wins and 3,116 strikeouts; John Smoltz finished with 213 wins and 3,084 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Curt Schilling, in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? John Smoltz, with 3.33 to Curt Schilling's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Curt Schilling, with 216 to John Smoltz's 213.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Curt Schilling, with 3,116 to John Smoltz's 3,084.
- Who had the better WHIP? Curt Schilling, with 1.14 to John Smoltz's 1.18.
- How many innings did each pitch? Curt Schilling 3,261.0, John Smoltz 3,473.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Curt Schilling, with 20 to John Smoltz's 16.
Curt Schilling
John Smoltz
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 | Curt Schilling | John Smoltz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 216 | 213 |
| Losses not scored | 146 | 155 |
| Games not scored | 569 | 723 |
| Games Started not scored | 436 | 481 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 83 | 53 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 20 | 16 |
| Saves not scored | 22 | 154 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,116 | 3,084 |
| Walks not scored | 711 | 1,010 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,998 | 3,074 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 347 | 288 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 3,261.0 | 3,473.0 |
| ERA | 3.46 | Leads: 3.33 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.60 | 7.99 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.96 | 2.62 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Curt Schilling edges John Smoltz 98,246 to 91,907 — driven by per-season impact — 4,912 PIV per season to 4,376 — rather than by longevity, since Curt Schilling played 20 seasons to John Smoltz's 21. 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).
Curt Schilling — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
John Smoltz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Curt Schilling leads 7 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and others. John Smoltz leads 1: ERA. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Curt Schilling. PIV agrees: Curt Schilling grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Curt Schilling and John Smoltz careers compare
Curt Schilling and John Smoltz were active at the same time between 1988 and 2007. The two careers are close in length, 569 games for Curt Schilling and 723 for John Smoltz across 20 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where John Smoltz comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.33 to 3.46). By rate, Curt Schilling struck out 8.60 and walked 1.96 per nine innings; John Smoltz struck out 7.99 and walked 2.62. Their roles differ: Curt Schilling was mainly a starter (436 starts in 569 games); John Smoltz split time between starting and relief (481 starts in 723 games).
Curt Schilling vs John Smoltz: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Curt Schilling or John Smoltz?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Curt Schilling leads John Smoltz in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- John Smoltz, with 3.33 to Curt Schilling's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Curt Schilling, with 216 to John Smoltz's 213.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Curt Schilling, with 3,116 to John Smoltz's 3,084.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Curt Schilling, with 1.14 to John Smoltz's 1.18.