Josh Hader vs Bruce Sutter: Career Stats Comparison
Bruce Sutter 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; Bruce Sutter played 1976–1988 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 Bruce Sutter (1976–1988) — 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; Bruce Sutter finished with 68 wins and 861 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 Bruce Sutter's 2.83.
- Who won more games? Bruce Sutter, with 68 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Josh Hader, with 884 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Bruce Sutter's 1.14.
- Who pitched more innings? Bruce Sutter, with 1,042.0 to Josh Hader's 557.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bruce Sutter, with 23,292 career Pitcher PIV to Josh Hader's 17,542.
Bruce Sutter
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 | Bruce Sutter |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 68 |
| Losses not scored | 33 | 71 |
| Games | 513 | Leads: 661 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 253 | Leads: 300 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 884 | 861 |
| Walks not scored | 213 | 309 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 301 | 879 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 66 | 77 |
| Innings Pitched | 557.0 | Leads: 1,042.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.50 | 2.83 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.92 | 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.28 | 7.44 |
| BB/9 | 3.44 | Leads: 2.67 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bruce Sutter leads Josh Hader 23,292 to 17,542 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,941 PIV per season to 1,754, across 12 seasons to 10. 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.
Bruce Sutter — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Josh Hader leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Bruce Sutter owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Josh Hader. Note that PIV actually grades Bruce Sutter ahead, which means Josh Hader's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Josh Hader and Bruce Sutter careers compare
No season is shared: Bruce Sutter played 1976–1988, Josh Hader 2017–present. With 513 games against 661 across 10 and 12 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Josh Hader's edges on the table are strikeouts (884 to 861), ERA (2.50 to 2.83), and WHIP (0.92 to 1.14). By rate, Josh Hader struck out 14.28 and walked 3.44 per nine innings; Bruce Sutter struck out 7.44 and walked 2.67. Josh Hader worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 513 games, 253 saves), and Bruce Sutter worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 661 games, 300 saves). In WHIP, Josh Hader's 0.92 beats Bruce Sutter's 1.14. Because Josh Hader is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Josh Hader vs Bruce Sutter: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Josh Hader or Bruce Sutter?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bruce Sutter leads Josh Hader in 5 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Bruce Sutter's 2.83.
- Who won more games?
- Bruce Sutter, with 68 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Josh Hader, with 884 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Bruce Sutter's 1.14.