Josh Hader vs Steve Howe: Career Stats Comparison
Josh Hader has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Josh Hader has played 2017–present as a pitcher; Steve Howe played 1980–1996 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 Steve Howe (1980–1996) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Josh Hader has 38 wins and 884 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Steve Howe finished with 47 wins and 328 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 Steve Howe's 3.03.
- Who won more games? Steve Howe, with 47 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Josh Hader, with 884 to Steve Howe's 328.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Steve Howe's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Howe, with 606.0 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 Steve Howe's 12,134.
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 1980s 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 | Steve Howe |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 47 |
| Losses not scored | 33 | 41 |
| Games | Leads: 513 | 497 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 253 | 91 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 884 | 328 |
| Walks not scored | 213 | 139 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 301 | 586 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 66 | 32 |
| Innings Pitched | 557.0 | Leads: 606.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.50 | 3.03 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.92 | 1.20 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.28 | 4.87 |
| BB/9 | 3.44 | Leads: 2.06 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Josh Hader outpaces Steve Howe 17,542 to 12,134 — driven by per-season impact — 1,754 PIV per season to 933 — rather than by longevity, since Josh Hader played 10 seasons to Steve Howe's 13. 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.
Steve Howe
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 strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Steve Howe 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 Steve Howe careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Steve Howe's ended in 1996, and Josh Hader debuted in 2017. With 513 games against 497 across 10 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Steve Howe are wins (47 to 38), innings (606.0 to 557.0), and walks per nine (2.06 to 3.44). By rate, Josh Hader struck out 14.28 and walked 3.44 per nine innings; Steve Howe struck out 4.87 and walked 2.06. Both had the same role: Josh Hader worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 513 games, 253 saves); Steve Howe worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 497 games, 91 saves). Because Josh Hader is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Josh Hader vs Steve Howe: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Josh Hader or Steve Howe?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Josh Hader leads Steve Howe in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Steve Howe's 3.03.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Howe, with 47 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Josh Hader, with 884 to Steve Howe's 328.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Steve Howe's 1.20.