Eric Gagne vs Josh Hader: Career Stats Comparison
Josh Hader 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). Eric Gagne played 1999–2008 as a pitcher; Josh Hader has played 2017–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
Eric Gagne (1999–2008) and Josh Hader (2017–present) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Eric Gagne finished with 33 wins and 718 strikeouts; Josh Hader has 38 wins and 884 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Eric Gagne's 3.47.
- Who won more games? Josh Hader, with 38 to Eric Gagne's 33.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Josh Hader, with 884 to Eric Gagne's 718.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Eric Gagne's 1.16.
- Who pitched more innings? Eric Gagne, with 643.2 to Josh Hader's 557.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Josh Hader, with 17,542 career Pitcher PIV to Eric Gagne's 14,441.
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 1990s and the 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Josh Hader is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Eric Gagne | Josh Hader |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 33 | Leads: 38 |
| Losses not scored | 26 | 33 |
| Games | 402 | Leads: 513 |
| Games Started | Leads: 48 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 187 | Leads: 253 |
| Strikeouts | 718 | Leads: 884 |
| Walks not scored | 226 | 213 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 518 | 301 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 76 | 66 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 643.2 | 557.0 |
| ERA | 3.47 | Leads: 2.50 |
| WHIP | 1.16 | Leads: 0.92 |
| K/9 | 10.04 | Leads: 14.28 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.16 | 3.44 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Josh Hader leads Eric Gagne 17,542 to 14,441 — driven by per-season impact — 1,754 PIV per season to 1,313 — rather than by longevity, since Josh Hader played 10 seasons to Eric Gagne's 11. 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).
Eric Gagne — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Josh Hader
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Josh Hader leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Eric Gagne owns innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Josh Hader. PIV agrees: Josh Hader grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Eric Gagne and Josh Hader careers compare
No season is shared: Eric Gagne played 1999–2008, Josh Hader 2017–present. The two careers are close in length, 402 games for Eric Gagne and 513 for Josh Hader across 11 and 10 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Eric Gagne's edges on the table are starts (48 to 0), innings (643.2 to 557.0), and walks per nine (3.16 to 3.44). By rate, Eric Gagne struck out 10.04 and walked 3.16 per nine innings; Josh Hader struck out 14.28 and walked 3.44. Eric Gagne worked mostly in relief (48 starts in 402 games, 187 saves), and Josh Hader worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 513 games, 253 saves). Because Josh Hader is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Eric Gagne vs Josh Hader: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Eric Gagne or Josh Hader?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Josh Hader leads Eric Gagne in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Eric Gagne's 3.47.
- Who won more games?
- Josh Hader, with 38 to Eric Gagne's 33.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Josh Hader, with 884 to Eric Gagne's 718.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Eric Gagne's 1.16.