Josh Hader vs John Wetteland: Career Stats Comparison
John Wetteland has the better career line of the two, leading 6 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; John Wetteland played 1989–2000 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 John Wetteland (1989–2000) — 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; John Wetteland finished with 48 wins and 804 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 John Wetteland's 2.93.
- Who won more games? John Wetteland, with 48 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Josh Hader, with 884 to John Wetteland's 804.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to John Wetteland's 1.13.
- Who pitched more innings? John Wetteland, with 765.0 to Josh Hader's 557.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? John Wetteland, with 20,366 career Pitcher PIV to Josh Hader's 17,542.
John Wetteland
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 | John Wetteland |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 48 |
| Losses not scored | 33 | 45 |
| Games | 513 | Leads: 618 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 17 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 253 | Leads: 330 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 884 | 804 |
| Walks not scored | 213 | 252 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 301 | 616 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 66 | 73 |
| Innings Pitched | 557.0 | Leads: 765.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.50 | 2.93 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.92 | 1.13 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.28 | 9.46 |
| BB/9 | 3.44 | Leads: 2.96 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), John Wetteland leads Josh Hader 20,366 to 17,542 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: John Wetteland played 12 seasons to Josh Hader's 10, while Josh Hader carries the higher per-season figure (1,754 to 1,697). 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.
John Wetteland
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Josh Hader leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while John Wetteland 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 John Wetteland 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 John Wetteland careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: John Wetteland's ended in 2000, and Josh Hader debuted in 2017. The two careers are close in length, 513 games for Josh Hader and 618 for John Wetteland across 10 and 12 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Josh Hader are strikeouts (884 to 804), ERA (2.50 to 2.93), and WHIP (0.92 to 1.13). The per-nine rows read 14.28 strikeouts and 3.44 walks for Josh Hader, 9.46 and 2.96 for John Wetteland. Josh Hader worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 513 games, 253 saves), and John Wetteland worked mostly in relief (17 starts in 618 games, 330 saves). Josh Hader's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Josh Hader vs John Wetteland: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Josh Hader or John Wetteland?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, John Wetteland leads Josh Hader in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to John Wetteland's 2.93.
- Who won more games?
- John Wetteland, with 48 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Josh Hader, with 884 to John Wetteland's 804.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to John Wetteland's 1.13.