1979–1991 · P

Mike Scott

6' 2", 210 lbs·Lived to 71·Bats R / Throws R

Cy Young AwardAll-Star

The Almanac's Take

Scott threw one of baseball's nastiest split-finger fastballs, a pitch so devastating it helped transform him from a struggling journeyman into a Cy Young winner almost overnight. After bouncing around for seven mediocre seasons, he perfected the splitter in 1985 and immediately became dominant, culminating in his spectacular 1986 campaign where his 2.22 ERA was nearly two runs better than his previous career mark.

That Cy Young season showcased Scott at his peak — his 306 strikeouts and 178 ERA+ represented a pitcher who had found the perfect weapon. The split-finger became his calling card, baffling hitters who couldn't distinguish it from his fastball until it dropped off the table. While he never quite reached those heights again, Scott remained effective through his Houston years, proving that sometimes the right pitch can completely resurrect a career.

Career Highs

2.22

Best ERA · 1986

Most W · 1989

306

Most K · 1986

0.923

Best WHIP · 1986

Career Arc · OPS

12 seasons

Career Arc · ERA

13 seasons

Statistical Comps

Gerrit Cole

99%

2023 season

K/9 9.6 · BB/9 2.1 · HR/9 0.86 · SP · FB 96.6 mph · Whiff% 24

Zack Wheeler

99%

2024 season

K/9 10.1 · BB/9 2.3 · HR/9 0.90 · SP · FB 95.1 mph · Whiff% 26

Trevor Rogers

99%

2025 season

K/9 8.4 · BB/9 2.4 · HR/9 0.49 · SP · FB 93.0 mph · Whiff% 24

Career · Hitting

13 seasons

Year	Team	G	AB	HR	RBI	AVG	OPS	OPS+
1979	NYM	18	12	0	0	.000	.077	11
1980	NYM	6	9	0	1	.111	.384	54
1981	NYM	23	41	0	1	.073	.207	30
1982	NYM	37	48	0	3	.146	.409	57
1983	HOU	24	48	0	4	.167	.392	55
1984	HOU	31	47	0	3	.128	.333	47
1985	HOU	36	72	1	11	.153	.428	60
1986	HOU	38	95	0	3	.126	.292	41
1987	HOU	36	80	0	3	.125	.282	38
1988	HOU	32	71	0	5	.085	.196	28
1989	HOU	33	75	1	10	.133	.327	47
1990	HOU	32	54	0	1	.130	.319	45
1991	HOU	2	1	0	0	.000	.000	0
Career		348	653	2	45	.124	—	—

Career · Pitching

13 seasons

Year	Team	G	IP	W	L	ERA	ERA+	SO	WHIP
1979	NYM	18	52.3	1	3	5.33	75	21	1.510
1980	NYM	6	29.3	1	1	4.30	89	13	1.636
1981	NYM	23	136.0	5	10	3.90	92	54	1.206
1982	NYM	37	147.0	7	13	5.14	75	63	1.667
1983	HOU	24	145.0	10	6	3.72	104	73	1.303
1984	HOU	31	154.0	5	11	4.68	81	83	1.442
1985	HOU	36	221.7	18	8	3.29	118	137	1.236
1986	HOU	37	275.3	18	10	2.22	178	306	0.923
1987	HOU	36	247.7	16	13	3.23	133	233	1.122
1988	HOU	32	218.7	14	8	2.92	127	190	0.983
1989	HOU	33	229.0	20	10	3.10	119	172	1.057
1990	HOU	32	205.7	9	13	3.81	101	121	1.264
1991	HOU	2	7.0	0	2	12.86	30	3	2.143
Career		347	2068.7	124	108	—	—	1469	—

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