Mike Scott vs Fernando Valenzuela: Career Stats Comparison
Fernando Valenzuela has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Mike Scott played 1979–1991 as a pitcher; Fernando Valenzuela played 1980–1997 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
Mike Scott (1979–1991) and Fernando Valenzuela (1980–1997) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Mike Scott finished with 124 wins and 1,469 strikeouts; Fernando Valenzuela finished with 173 wins and 2,074 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Neither — both are at 3.54.
- Who won more games? Fernando Valenzuela, with 173 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,074 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mike Scott, with 1.20 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,930.0 to Mike Scott's 2,068.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fernando Valenzuela, with 31 to Mike Scott's 22.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fernando Valenzuela, with 30,102 career Pitcher PIV to Mike Scott's 28,073.
Mike Scott
Fernando Valenzuela
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 1970s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mike Scott | Fernando Valenzuela |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 124 | Leads: 173 |
| Losses not scored | 108 | 153 |
| Games | 347 | Leads: 453 |
| Games Started | 319 | Leads: 424 |
| Complete Games | 45 | Leads: 113 |
| Shutouts | 22 | Leads: 31 |
| Saves | Leads: 3 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 1,469 | Leads: 2,074 |
| Walks not scored | 627 | 1,151 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,858 | 2,718 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 173 | 226 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,068.2 | Leads: 2,930.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.54 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.20 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.39 | 6.37 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.73 | 3.54 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fernando Valenzuela edges Mike Scott 30,102 to 28,073 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Fernando Valenzuela played 18 seasons to Mike Scott's 13, while Mike Scott carries the higher per-season figure (2,159 to 1,672). 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).
Mike Scott — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Fernando Valenzuela — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fernando Valenzuela leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Mike Scott owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fernando Valenzuela. PIV agrees: Fernando Valenzuela grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mike Scott and Fernando Valenzuela careers compare
From 1980 through 1991, Mike Scott and Fernando Valenzuela were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 347 games for Mike Scott and 453 for Fernando Valenzuela across 13 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. By rate, Mike Scott struck out 6.39 and walked 2.73 per nine innings; Fernando Valenzuela struck out 6.37 and walked 3.54. Mike Scott was mainly a starter (319 starts in 347 games), and Fernando Valenzuela was mainly a starter (424 starts in 453 games). Mike Scott allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.20 WHIP to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
Mike Scott vs Fernando Valenzuela: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mike Scott or Fernando Valenzuela?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fernando Valenzuela leads Mike Scott in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Neither — both are at 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Fernando Valenzuela, with 173 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,074 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mike Scott, with 1.20 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.