Josh Hader vs Willie Hernandez: Career Stats Comparison
Josh Hader and Willie Hernandez are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 5–5 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Josh Hader has played 2017–present as a pitcher; Willie Hernandez played 1977–1989 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
Josh Hader (2017–present) and Willie Hernandez (1977–1989) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Josh Hader has 38 wins and 884 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Willie Hernandez finished with 70 wins and 788 strikeouts. 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 Willie Hernandez's 3.38.
- Who won more games? Willie Hernandez, with 70 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Josh Hader, with 884 to Willie Hernandez's 788.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Willie Hernandez's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Willie Hernandez, with 1,044.2 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 Willie Hernandez's 10,045.
Willie Hernandez
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 2010s and the 1970s 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 | Josh Hader | Willie Hernandez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 70 |
| Losses not scored | 33 | 63 |
| Games | 513 | Leads: 744 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 11 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 253 | 147 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 884 | 788 |
| Walks not scored | 213 | 349 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 301 | 952 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 66 | 97 |
| Innings Pitched | 557.0 | Leads: 1,044.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.50 | 3.38 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.92 | 1.25 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.28 | 6.79 |
| BB/9 | 3.44 | Leads: 3.01 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Josh Hader outpaces Willie Hernandez 17,542 to 10,045 — driven by per-season impact — 1,754 PIV per season to 718 — rather than by longevity, since Josh Hader played 10 seasons to Willie Hernandez's 14. 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).
Josh Hader
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Willie Hernandez — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Josh Hader leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Willie Hernandez owns wins and 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 Josh Hader and Willie Hernandez careers compare
Willie Hernandez (1977–1989) was finished before Josh Hader (2017–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 513 games against 744 across 10 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Josh Hader struck out 14.28 and walked 3.44 per nine innings; Willie Hernandez struck out 6.79 and walked 3.01. Josh Hader worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 513 games, 253 saves), and Willie Hernandez worked mostly in relief (11 starts in 744 games, 147 saves). Josh Hader allowed fewer baserunners, a 0.92 WHIP to Willie Hernandez's 1.25. Only Willie Hernandez has a season on the peak list; Josh Hader never reached the qualifying workload. Josh Hader's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Josh Hader vs Willie Hernandez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Willie Hernandez's 3.38.
- Who won more games?
- Willie Hernandez, with 70 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Josh Hader, with 884 to Willie Hernandez's 788.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Willie Hernandez's 1.25.