Josh Hader vs Kerry Wood: Career Stats Comparison
Josh Hader and Kerry Wood are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Josh Hader has played 2017–present as a pitcher; Kerry Wood played 1998–2012 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 Kerry Wood (1998–2012) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Josh Hader has 38 wins and 884 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Kerry Wood finished with 86 wins and 1,582 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 Kerry Wood's 3.67.
- Who won more games? Kerry Wood, with 86 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Kerry Wood, with 1,582 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Kerry Wood's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Kerry Wood, with 1,380.0 to Josh Hader's 557.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Kerry Wood, with 5 to Josh Hader's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Kerry Wood, with 20,852 career Pitcher PIV to Josh Hader's 17,542.
Kerry Wood
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 1990s 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 | Kerry Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 86 |
| Losses not scored | 33 | 75 |
| Games | Leads: 513 | 446 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 178 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 11 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 5 |
| Saves | Leads: 253 | 63 |
| Strikeouts | 884 | Leads: 1,582 |
| Walks not scored | 213 | 666 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 301 | 1,083 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 66 | 148 |
| Innings Pitched | 557.0 | Leads: 1,380.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.50 | 3.67 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.92 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.28 | 10.32 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.44 | 4.34 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kerry Wood leads Josh Hader 20,852 to 17,542 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Kerry Wood played 15 seasons to Josh Hader's 10, while Josh Hader carries the higher per-season figure (1,754 to 1,390). 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.
Kerry Wood — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Kerry Wood 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 Kerry Wood. PIV agrees: Kerry Wood 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 Kerry Wood careers compare
Kerry Wood (1998–2012) was finished before Josh Hader (2017–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 513 games against 446 across 10 and 15 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; Kerry Wood struck out 10.32 and walked 4.34. Josh Hader worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 513 games, 253 saves), while Kerry Wood split time between starting and relief (178 starts in 446 games). Josh Hader allowed fewer baserunners, a 0.92 WHIP to Kerry Wood's 1.27. Josh Hader has no qualifying season for the peak list, while Kerry Wood's best is 2003. Because Josh Hader is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Josh Hader vs Kerry Wood: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Kerry Wood's 3.67.
- Who won more games?
- Kerry Wood, with 86 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Kerry Wood, with 1,582 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Kerry Wood's 1.27.