Josh Hader vs Craig Kimbrel: Career Stats Comparison
Josh Hader (2017–present) and Craig Kimbrel (2010–present) — both came up during the 2010s, so the matchup is a direct one. Josh Hader compiled 34 wins and 829 strikeouts; Craig Kimbrel put up 56 wins and 1,282 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Josh Hader | Craig Kimbrel |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 34 | 56 |
| Losses | 31 | 48 |
| Games | 468 | 851 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 227 | 440 |
| Strikeouts | 829 | 1,282 |
| Walks | 198 | 346 |
| Hits Allowed | 282 | 492 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 65 | 75 |
| Innings Pitched | 512 | 821 |
| ERA | 2.64 | 2.58 |
| WHIP | 0.94 | 1.02 |
| K/9 | 14.56 | 14.04 |
| BB/9 | 3.48 | 3.79 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Craig Kimbrel outpaces Josh Hader 30,862 to 17,542 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,715 vs 1,754 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Josh Hader — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Craig Kimbrel — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Craig Kimbrel leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Josh Hader owns 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.