Josh Hader vs Lee Smith: Career Stats Comparison
Lee Smith 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; Lee Smith played 1980–1997 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 Lee Smith (1980–1997) — 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; Lee Smith finished with 71 wins and 1,251 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 Lee Smith's 3.03.
- Who won more games? Lee Smith, with 71 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Lee Smith, with 1,251 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Lee Smith's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Lee Smith, with 1,289.1 to Josh Hader's 557.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Lee Smith, with 33,335 career Pitcher PIV to Josh Hader's 17,542.
Lee Smith
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 | Lee Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 71 |
| Losses not scored | 33 | 92 |
| Games | 513 | Leads: 1,022 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 6 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 253 | Leads: 478 |
| Strikeouts | 884 | Leads: 1,251 |
| Walks not scored | 213 | 486 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 301 | 1,133 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 66 | 89 |
| Innings Pitched | 557.0 | Leads: 1,289.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.50 | 3.03 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.92 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.28 | 8.73 |
| BB/9 | 3.44 | Leads: 3.39 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lee Smith outpaces Josh Hader 33,335 to 17,542 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Lee Smith played 21 seasons to Josh Hader's 10, while Josh Hader carries the higher per-season figure (1,754 to 1,587). 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.
Lee Smith
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lee Smith 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 Lee Smith. PIV agrees: Lee Smith 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 Lee Smith careers compare
No season is shared: Lee Smith played 1980–1997, Josh Hader 2017–present. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Josh Hader has appeared in 513 games to Lee Smith's 1,022. Where Josh Hader comes out ahead, it is in ERA (2.50 to 3.03), WHIP (0.92 to 1.26), and strikeouts per nine (14.28 to 8.73). By rate, Josh Hader struck out 14.28 and walked 3.44 per nine innings; Lee Smith struck out 8.73 and walked 3.39. Josh Hader worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 513 games, 253 saves), and Lee Smith worked mostly in relief (6 starts in 1,022 games, 478 saves). Josh Hader's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Josh Hader vs Lee Smith: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Josh Hader or Lee Smith?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lee Smith leads Josh Hader in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Lee Smith's 3.03.
- Who won more games?
- Lee Smith, with 71 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Lee Smith, with 1,251 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Lee Smith's 1.26.