The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are meeting for a weekend series at American Family Field. Milwaukee currently leads the National League Central division and San Diego is both six games under .500 and six games out from a Wild Card spot. This match up, in Milwaukee, will feature two National League Reliever of the Year candidates that were former teammates.
This series will mark the first time that Josh Hader has returned to Milwaukee since surprisingly being traded last summer. His departure has opened the door for Devin Williams to become the Brewers closer and now both William and Hader are 2023 NL Reliever of the year candidates. Hader will become a free agent at the end of the season and is in line for a massive paycheck.
Milwaukee Brewers-San Diego Padres: Who statistically has the edge for the 2023 NL Reliever of the Year award between Devin Williams and Josh Hader?

Here is a statistical breakdown of Devin Williams and Josh Hader.
- Devin Williams: 7-3 record, 1.49 ERA, 30 saves, three blown saves (90.9%), 0.952 WHIP, 4.3 hits/9, 4.3 BB/9, 13.4 K/9, 72 strikeouts in 48⅓ innings.
- Josh Hader: 0-1 record, 0.81 ERA, 27 saves, four blown saves (87.1%), 0.963 WHIP, 3.8 hits/9, 4.8 BB/9, 14.3 K/9, 71 strikeouts in 44⅔ innings
These two pitchers are very close in a lot of these categories. Josh Hader does have the edge in ERA, and K/9, but Devin Williams has more saves and a lower WHIP. If the 2023 NL Reliever of the Year award comes down to these two I would expect the voting to be very close, but it may favor Hader’s gaudy ERA and strikeout numbers.
Hader has won the award three times (2018, 2019, 2021) and Williams once (2020). Other players to consider this year include Cincinnati Reds closer Alexis Diaz, Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar, and San Francisco Giants closer Camilo Doval.