Born four years apart. One right-handed, the other a lefty. One’s from St. Louis, one’s from Dallas, Texas. Max went to the University of Missouri. Clayton went straight to the show after high school. Scherzer’s played for a handful of clubs, Kershaw’s been a Dodger lifer. Max’s different colored eyes could get him a role as a James Bond villain, and Clayton’s childhood friend is Matthew freakin’ Stafford.
Point being, there might not be much in common between the two. Their similarities, however, have made them the most prestigious, top tier pitchers of the millennium. One similarity they share, has been being a pain in the ass to every hitter in the league since they’ve made their debuts in 2008. They both have a World Series ring on their finger. Both with three Cy Young awards on their trophy shelf at home, and more combined All-Star selections than we can count on our fingers.
But who’s better?
How do their career numbers stack up against one another? or even year by year comparisons? Is it a close margin between the two? Or is there a gap between them? Lets dive into the numbers that help distinguish between the two, and even shed light on how they’re alike, to see who really is better
Let’s start this off with a year-by-year comparison with the basic major key stats,: (Bold lettering indicates led league in statistic that season)
| Clayton Kershaw | Year | Max Scherzer |
|---|---|---|
| 5-5, 4.26 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 107.2 IP, 100 Ks | 2008 | 0-4, 3.05 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 56 IP, 66 Ks |
| 8-8, 2.79 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 171 IP, 185 Ks, 6.3 H/9 | 2009 | 9-11, 4.12 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 170.1 IP, 174 Ks |
| 13-10, 2.91 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 204.1 IP, 212 Ks | 2010 | 12-11, 3.50 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 195.2 IP, 184 Ks |
| 21-5, 2.28 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 233.1 IP, 248 Ks, 6.7 H/9 | 2011 | 15-9, 4.43 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 195 IP, 174 Ks |
| 14-9, 2.53 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 227.2 IP, 229 Ks | 2012 | 16-7, 3.74 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 187.2 IP, 231 Ks, 11.1 K/9 |
| 16-9, 1.83 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 236 IP, 232 Ks | 2013 | 21-3, 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 214.1 IP, 240 Ks |
| 21-3, 1.77 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 198 IP, 239 Ks | 2014 | 18-5, 3.15 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 220.1 IP, 252 Ks |
| 16-7, 2.13 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 232.2 IP, 301 Ks | 2015 | 14-12, 2.79 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 228.2 IP, 276 Ks |
| 12-4, 1.69 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 149 IP, 172 Ks | 2016 | 20-7, 2.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 228.1 IP, 284 Ks |
| 18-4, 2.31 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 175 IP, 202 Ks | 2017 | 16-6, 2.51 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 200.2 IP, 268 Ks |
| 9-5, 2.73 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 161.1 IP, 155 Ks | 2018 | 18-7, 2.53 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 220.2 IP, 300 Ks |
| 16-5, 3.03 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 178.1 IP, 189 Ks | 2019 | 11-7, 2.92 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 172.1 IP, 243 Ks |
| 6-2, 2.16 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 58.1 IP, 62 Ks | 2020 | 5-4, 3.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 67.1 IP, 92 Ks |
| 10-8, 3.55 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 121.2 IP, 144 Ks | 2021 | 15-4, 2.46 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 179.1 IP, 236 Ks |
| 12-3, 2.28 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 126.1 IP, 137 Ks | 2022 | 11-5, 2.29 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 145 IP, 173 Ks |
Amongst the plethora of numbers between the two listed above, a handful of them were of note:
- Kershaw has never had a losing season
- From 2009 to 2016, Kershaw posted a lower ERA and WHIP than Scherzer
- Kershaw produced five straight seasons with a WHIP under 1.000 (2013-2017)
- After the 2011 season, Scherzer would average at least 10 Ks per 9 innings for the rest of his career
- Scherzer produced 4 straight seasons (2015-2019) with a WHIP below 1.000 and 250+ Ks
- Kershaw has eight seasons with a WHIP under 1.000, to Scherzer’s seven
- Kershaw has 7 seasons with an ERA lower than 2.29, which is Scherzer’s lowest in a season (2022)
- Since 2012, Scherzer has 533 more strikeouts (2,595) than Kershaw (2,062)
Filthy, filthy stuff from both of them. Winning records everywhere, WHIPs and ERAs lower than my checking account balance, dump-truck full amounts of innings pitched, and a warehouse full of strikeouts.
The biggest difference between the two however, has to be Kershaw’s ERAs over the years. Which is truly something else. In certain years his ERA was nearly half of what Scherzer’s was. A staggering eight seasons with an ERA under 2.50 for Kershaw. 3 of them under 2.00. While Max only has two seasons with an ERA under 2.50 to his name, both not coming until after the COVID-shortened season of 2020 (2021 & 2022).
Advantage on surrendering runs? Kershaw, easily.
Mad Max’s advantage in all this? Of course, the strikeouts
K’s for days, leading the league for three straight years from ’16 to ’18. Those three years being a part of a 5-year span in which he produced 250+ strikeouts. Matched up to Kershaw’s one season in which he struck out 250+, Scherzer gets himself on the advantage board in the K department
The innings pitched is more of a push here. Though it is important to make note of it because innings pitched are essentially outs, and that’s what it’s all about for a pitcher. Kershaw churning his pitching milage more early in his career, with Max logging his big work shifts a bit later in his career.
The Career Comparison
| Kershaw | Career Stat | Scherzer |
|---|---|---|
| 197-87 | W-L | 201-102 |
| .694 | W-L% | .663 |
| 2.48 | ERA | 3.11 |
| 777 | Runs | 998 |
| 2,581 | IP | 2,682 |
| 25 | CG | 12 |
| 15 | SHO | 5 |
| 1955 | Hits | 2180 |
| 6.8 | H Per 9 | 7.3 |
| 629 | Walks | 701 |
| 2.2 | Walks Per 9 | 2.4 |
| 206 | HRs | 300 |
| 0.7 | HR Per 9 | 1.0 |
| 2807 | Ks | 3193 |
| 9.8 | K Per 9 | 10.7 |
| 1.00 | WHIP | 1.07 |
| 39 | HBP | 107 |
The Verdict
Cooperstown bound career numbers from both men. We’re going to go look at other players stat lines after this and think everyone else is just average.
However, this is a Career Comparison. A heavyweight bout one in that. If we’re being truthful here, all evidence points to Kershaw in this one. To have that big a gap in runs surrendered, with just a tick over 100 innings between them, shows Clayton’s elite stinginess on the mound is on a completely different level.
Fewer hits. Fewer homers. fewer walks. hit a whole lot less batters. Doubling Max in complete games and tripling him in shutouts
in what seems to be a neck & neck matchup just going off the names, there’s no doubt that, by some distance, our winner in this contest, is The Claw, Clayton Kershaw.
