A pitcher gets a win in baseball when they are the pitcher of record and their team is ahead when they leave the game, and their team goes on to win. What is a pitcher of record? The pitcher of record is the pitcher who was pitching when the go-ahead run scored. Can I as a fan get a win in baseball? No, only pitchers can receive a win. Who is a pitcher of record? As stated, they are the pitcher in the game when the go-ahead run is scored.
The concept of a pitcher’s win, often referred to as the “win-loss record,” is one of the most fundamental statistics in baseball. It’s a measure of a pitcher’s effectiveness and contribution to their team’s success. While it seems straightforward, the rules governing how a win is awarded can be quite nuanced, especially for relief pitchers. This guide will dive deep into the criteria and scenarios that determine who gets credited with a win.
Fathoming the Basics of a Pitcher’s Win
At its core, a pitcher’s win is awarded to the pitcher who is deemed most responsible for their team’s victory. This responsibility isn’t solely based on overall performance but rather on specific game situations as defined by baseball’s official rules. The designated official scorer is the one who makes the final determination on who receives the win.
The Core Requirements for a Pitching Win
For a pitcher to be eligible for a win, several key conditions must be met. These conditions ensure that the win is attributed to a pitcher who actively contributed to securing the victory.
- Team Victory: The most obvious requirement is that the pitcher’s team must win the game.
- Pitcher of Record: The pitcher must be the pitcher of record at the moment their team takes the lead and maintains it for the remainder of the game.
- Leaving the Game: The pitcher must leave the game while their team is ahead.
The Starting Pitcher’s Path to a Win
The starting pitcher typically has the clearest path to earning a win. Their role is to begin the game and pitch for a significant portion of it.
The Standard Scenario for a Starting Pitcher Win
The most common way a starting pitcher gets a win is by pitching at least five innings and leaving the game with their team holding a lead.
- Minimum Innings: In a regulation nine-inning game, a starting pitcher must pitch a minimum of five innings to qualify for a win. This ensures they played a substantial role in the game’s outcome.
- Leading When Leaving: Crucially, the starting pitcher must depart the game with their team in front on the scoreboard.
- Team Maintains the Lead: After the starting pitcher leaves, the subsequent pitchers (relief pitchers) must successfully protect that lead. If the opposing team takes the lead after the starter leaves, the starter will not get the win, even if they pitched well.
Special Cases for Starting Pitchers
There are a few less common scenarios that can still result in a starting pitcher getting a win:
- Shortened Games: If a game is shortened due to weather or other circumstances and the starting pitcher has pitched at least five innings (or fewer innings in a shorter scheduled game, such as a seven-inning game in a doubleheader, where they must pitch at least four innings), and their team is leading, they can still get the win.
- Quality Start and a Win: While not a direct requirement for a win, a quality start (pitching at least six innings and allowing three or fewer earned runs) often positions a starting pitcher favorably to receive a win, provided the other criteria are met.
Deciphering the Relief Pitcher’s Win
Awarding a win to a relief pitcher is more complex and involves specific rules to ensure the win is given to the most deserving reliever.
The General Rule for Relief Pitchers
A relief pitcher earns a win if they are the pitcher of record when their team takes the lead and maintains it for the rest of the game, and they are not the pitcher who gave up the go-ahead run to the other team earlier in the game.
Key Scenarios for Relief Pitcher Wins
Several scenarios dictate when a relief pitcher receives a win:
- Entering with the Score Tied: If a relief pitcher enters the game when the score is tied and their team subsequently takes the lead while that pitcher is still in the game, and the team holds onto that lead, the reliever gets the win.
- Entering with the Score Behind: A reliever can also get a win if they enter the game when their team is trailing, their team then takes the lead while they are pitching, and they maintain that lead until they leave the game, or the game ends.
- The “Pitcher of Record” Principle: The critical factor is being the pitcher of record when the go-ahead run is scored by your team. If a relief pitcher enters the game with runners on base and the inherited runner scores, that run is charged to the previous pitcher. However, if that relief pitcher then allows their own runner to score, that run is charged to them. The win is awarded to the reliever who was pitching when their team gained the lead and did not relinquish it.
The Interplay with the Starting Pitcher
- Starter Leaves with a Lead: If the starting pitcher leaves the game with a lead, and the score remains tied or the lead is relinquished by the relief pitchers, the starter does not get the win. In this case, the win typically goes to the relief pitcher who is deemed to be pitching the best at the time the lead was regained or maintained.
- Starter Leaves in a Tie or Behind: If the starting pitcher leaves the game with the score tied or their team trailing, the next pitcher to enter the game is eligible for the win if their team subsequently takes the lead and holds it.
When a Pitcher Doesn’t Get a Win (The “No Decision”)
There are several common situations where a pitcher might pitch well but not be credited with a win or a loss. This is called a “no decision.”
Common “No Decision” Scenarios
- Starting Pitcher Leaves with No Decision:
- A starting pitcher pitches for several innings and leaves the game with the score tied.
- A starting pitcher leaves the game with their team trailing.
- Relief Pitcher Enters and Exits with No Decision:
- A relief pitcher enters a game with their team leading, pitches effectively, but the opposing team ties or takes the lead before the reliever leaves the game.
- A relief pitcher enters a game with the score tied, pitches well, but the team falls behind before the reliever departs.
- A relief pitcher enters with their team trailing, and the team does not take the lead while that pitcher is in the game.
The Role of the Official Scorer
The official scorer has the final say on all scoring decisions, including wins, losses, and saves. Their role is to interpret the rules based on the game’s progression.
Scorer’s Judgment and Discretion
While there are clear guidelines, some game situations require the scorer to exercise judgment. For instance, when multiple relief pitchers are involved, the scorer must decide which reliever was most instrumental in securing the win.
The “Pitcher of Record” Rule Refined
The scorer determines the pitcher of record as the pitcher who was pitching when the lead was changed in favor of the winning team. This pitcher must then pitch until their team has a lead of at least one run and that lead is maintained until the end of the game.
The Nuances of Earned Runs and Pitcher Responsibility
The concept of earn run is crucial in determining a pitcher’s responsibility, especially when it comes to wins and losses. An earn run is a run that a pitcher allows to score without the benefit of an error or a passed ball by the defense.
How Earned Runs Affect Decisions
- Starter’s Responsibility: If a starting pitcher allows an earn run, and that run turns out to be the go-ahead run for the opposing team, the starter cannot get a win.
- Inherited Runners and Earned Runs: When a relief pitcher enters the game with runners on base, the runs scored by those inherited runners are charged to the previous pitcher. If those inherited runners score, they count as earn runs against the previous pitcher, not the reliever. The reliever is only charged with earn runs that score as a result of batters they allow to reach base and subsequently score.
The Impact of a Blown Save
A blown save occurs when a relief pitcher fails to protect a lead. This can directly affect whether a reliever gets a win or a loss.
Blown Saves and Win Eligibility
- Reliever Gets a Blown Save and a Win: It is possible for a relief pitcher to be credited with a win and also a blown save in the same game. This happens if a pitcher enters with a lead, blows that lead by allowing the opposing team to tie or take the lead, but then their team regains the lead while that same pitcher is still in the game, and the team ultimately wins. In this scenario, the pitcher is credited with the win because they were pitching when their team took the lead back, but they also get a blown save for losing the initial lead.
Complete Games and Saves
While not directly tied to earning a win, complete game and save statistics are important related concepts for pitchers.
Complete Games
A complete game is credited to a pitcher who pitches the entire game for their team, from the first pitch to the last out, without being relieved. A pitcher who pitches a complete game and wins will obviously get the win.
Saves
A save is a statistic awarded to a relief pitcher who enters the game in a save situation and successfully finishes the game. A pitcher cannot get a win and a save in the same game. The official rules for a save are:
- The pitcher enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches at least one inning.
- The pitcher enters the game with the potential tying run on base, at bat, or on deck.
- The pitcher pitches effectively for at least three innings.
Scenarios Summarized: Who Gets the Win?
Let’s break down common game scenarios and determine who is likely to receive the win.
Table: Pitcher Win Scenarios
| Scenario | Starting Pitcher’s Outcome | Winning Relief Pitcher |
|---|---|---|
| Starter pitches 6 IP, allows 2 ER, leaves with a 3-1 lead. Reliever pitches 3 IP, allows 1 ER, team wins 4-2. | Win | N/A |
| Starter pitches 4 IP, allows 1 ER, leaves with a 2-1 lead. Reliever pitches 5 IP, allows 2 ER, team wins 3-2. | No Decision | The reliever who pitched the most effective innings while maintaining the lead (often the one who finishes the game). |
| Starter pitches 5 IP, allows 3 ER, leaves with a 5-5 tie. Reliever A pitches 2 IP, allows 0 ER. Reliever B pitches 1 IP, allows 0 ER. Reliever C pitches 1 IP, allows 0 ER, team wins 6-5 in the 9th. | No Decision | Reliever C (pitcher of record when the go-ahead run scored). |
| Starter pitches 6 IP, allows 1 ER, leaves with a 2-1 lead. Reliever A pitches 1 IP, allows 1 ER (tying run). Reliever B pitches 1 IP, allows 1 ER (go-ahead run for opponent). Reliever C pitches 1 IP, allows 0 ER. Team then scores 3 runs to win 5-4 in the 9th. | No Decision | Reliever C (pitcher of record when their team took the final lead). |
| Starter pitches 7 IP, allows 2 ER, leaves with a 4-2 lead. Reliever A pitches 2 IP, allows 2 ER (tying the game 4-4). Reliever B pitches 0.2 IP, allows 0 ER. Reliever C pitches 0.1 IP, allows 0 ER. Team scores 1 run in the bottom of the 9th to win 5-4. | No Decision | Reliever B or C (the scorer will judge who was most effective in preserving the tie before the walk-off win). |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can a relief pitcher get a win if they come into a game when their team is losing?
A1: Yes. If a relief pitcher enters the game when their team is trailing, and their team subsequently takes the lead while that pitcher is still in the game, and the team holds onto that lead, the relief pitcher is awarded the win.
Q2: What happens if a starting pitcher leaves the game with a lead, but the relief pitcher blows the save and the game goes into extra innings?
A2: If the starting pitcher left with a lead, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it, the starter will likely not get the win. The win will then be awarded to the relief pitcher who was pitching when their team regained the lead and held it through the end of the game.
Q3: If a pitcher pitches a complete game and wins, do they automatically get the win?
A3: Yes. If a pitcher pitches the entire game (a complete game) and their team wins, they are automatically credited with the win, assuming they pitched the entire game for the winning team.
Q4: What is the difference between a pitcher of record and the winning pitcher?
A4: The pitcher of record is the pitcher who was on the mound when the go-ahead run scored. The winning pitcher is the pitcher who was the pitcher of record when the go-ahead run scored, provided their team maintains that lead and wins the game. If the pitcher of record loses the lead, someone else might get the win.
Q5: Can a pitcher be credited with both a win and a save in the same game?
A5: No. According to official baseball rules, a pitcher cannot be credited with both a win and a save in the same game. The roles are mutually exclusive in the official scoring.
Conclusion
Earning a win in baseball is a testament to a pitcher’s ability to perform under pressure and contribute to their team’s success. While the starting pitcher typically has a more direct route to a win, the rules governing relief pitchers are designed to credit the reliever most responsible for securing the victory. By understanding the criteria for being the pitcher of record, the impact of inherited runners, and the scenarios that lead to no decisions, fans can gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate scoring decisions made in every baseball game. The official scorer plays a vital role in interpreting these rules, ensuring that wins are awarded fairly, reflecting the pitcher’s contribution to the outcome.