Josh Hader vs Dave Righetti: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Righetti 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). Josh Hader has played 2017–present as a pitcher; Dave Righetti played 1979–1995 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 Dave Righetti (1979–1995) — 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; Dave Righetti finished with 82 wins and 1,112 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 Dave Righetti's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Dave Righetti, with 82 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Dave Righetti, with 1,112 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Dave Righetti's 1.34.
- Who pitched more innings? Dave Righetti, with 1,403.2 to Josh Hader's 557.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Dave Righetti, with 2 to Josh Hader's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Dave Righetti, with 20,202 career Pitcher PIV to Josh Hader's 17,542.
Dave Righetti
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 | Dave Righetti |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 82 |
| Losses not scored | 33 | 79 |
| Games | 513 | Leads: 718 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 89 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 13 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 2 |
| Saves | Leads: 253 | 252 |
| Strikeouts | 884 | Leads: 1,112 |
| Walks not scored | 213 | 591 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 301 | 1,287 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 66 | 95 |
| Innings Pitched | 557.0 | Leads: 1,403.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.50 | 3.46 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.92 | 1.34 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.28 | 7.13 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.44 | 3.79 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dave Righetti leads Josh Hader 20,202 to 17,542 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Dave Righetti played 17 seasons to Josh Hader's 10, while Josh Hader carries the higher per-season figure (1,754 to 1,188). 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.
Dave Righetti — top 2 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dave Righetti 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 Dave Righetti. PIV agrees: Dave Righetti 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 Dave Righetti careers compare
No season is shared: Dave Righetti played 1979–1995, Josh Hader 2017–present. With 513 games against 718 across 10 and 17 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; Dave Righetti struck out 7.13 and walked 3.79. Josh Hader worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 513 games, 253 saves), and Dave Righetti worked mostly in relief (89 starts in 718 games, 252 saves). In WHIP, Josh Hader's 0.92 beats Dave Righetti's 1.34. Only Dave Righetti has a season on the peak list; Josh Hader never reached the qualifying workload. Because Josh Hader is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Josh Hader vs Dave Righetti: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Josh Hader or Dave Righetti?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Righetti leads Josh Hader in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Dave Righetti's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Dave Righetti, with 82 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Dave Righetti, with 1,112 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Dave Righetti's 1.34.