Josh Hader vs Craig Kimbrel: Career Stats Comparison
Craig Kimbrel has the better career line of the two, leading 5 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; Craig Kimbrel has played 2010–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
Josh Hader (2017–present) and Craig Kimbrel (2010–present) — both came up during the 2010s, so the matchup is a direct one. Josh Hader has 38 wins and 884 strikeouts through October 6, 2026; Craig Kimbrel has 57 wins and 1,322 strikeouts through October 6, 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 Craig Kimbrel's 2.69.
- Who won more games? Craig Kimbrel, with 57 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Craig Kimbrel's 1.04.
- Who pitched more innings? Craig Kimbrel, with 867.2 to Josh Hader's 557.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Craig Kimbrel, with 30,862 career Pitcher PIV to Josh Hader's 17,542.
Craig Kimbrel
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Josh Hader and Craig Kimbrel are still active — their totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Josh Hader | Craig Kimbrel |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 57 |
| Losses not scored | 33 | 53 |
| Games | 513 | Leads: 897 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 253 | Leads: 441 |
| Strikeouts | 884 | Leads: 1,322 |
| Walks not scored | 213 | 368 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 301 | 532 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 66 | 79 |
| Innings Pitched | 557.0 | Leads: 867.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.50 | 2.69 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.92 | 1.04 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.28 | 13.71 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.44 | 3.82 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Craig Kimbrel outpaces Josh Hader 30,862 to 17,542 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Craig Kimbrel played 18 seasons to Josh Hader's 10, while Josh Hader carries the higher per-season figure (1,754 to 1,715). 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.
Craig Kimbrel
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Craig Kimbrel leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Josh Hader owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Craig Kimbrel. PIV agrees: Craig Kimbrel 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 Craig Kimbrel careers compare
Josh Hader and Craig Kimbrel are both active, and their careers have run side by side since 2017. Craig Kimbrel has the far longer record, 897 games against 513 across 10 and 18 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Josh Hader comes out ahead, it is in ERA (2.50 to 2.69), WHIP (0.92 to 1.04), and strikeouts per nine (14.28 to 13.71). By rate, Josh Hader struck out 14.28 and walked 3.44 per nine innings; Craig Kimbrel struck out 13.71 and walked 3.82. Because Josh Hader and Craig Kimbrel are still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Josh Hader vs Craig Kimbrel: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Josh Hader or Craig Kimbrel?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Craig Kimbrel leads Josh Hader in 5 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Craig Kimbrel's 2.69.
- Who won more games?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 57 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Craig Kimbrel, with 1,322 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Craig Kimbrel's 1.04.