โพ In baseball, one of the most important stats used to evaluate pitchers is the ERA, or Earned Run Average. It’s a quick way to understand how well a pitcher is performing by showing how many earned runs they allow on average over nine innings.
Letโs break down what ERA is, how to calculate it, and give you a free ERA calculator you can use on the fly!
Table of Contents
๐ What Is ERA?
ERA (Earned Run Average) measures the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per 9 innings pitched. The lower the ERA, the better the pitcher is performing.
๐ Formula for ERA
ERA = (Earned Runs / Innings Pitched) ร 9
Definitions:
- Earned Runs โ The number of runs scored without errors or passed balls.
- Innings Pitched โ Total innings the pitcher has pitched. Note: A third of an inning is represented as 0.1, and two-thirds as 0.2.
So if a pitcher allows 5 earned runs over 20 innings, their ERA is:
ERA = (5 / 20) ร 9 = 2.25
This means the pitcher gives up an average of 2.25 earned runs every 9 innings.
๐ฏ Whatโs a Good ERA?
Here’s a general breakdown:
- ๐ฅ Excellent: Below 2.50
- ๐ช Good: 2.50 โ 3.50
- ๐ Average: 3.50 โ 4.50
- ๐จ Poor: Above 4.50
Keep in mind that league averages can shift slightly depending on the season and league level (MLB, college, etc.).
โ๏ธ Example Calculation
Letโs say a pitcher allowed 25 earned runs over 80.2 innings (which is 80 innings and 2/3 of an inning):
- Convert innings pitched: 80 + 2/3 = 80.6667
- Apply the formula:
ERA = (25 / 80.6667) ร 9 โ 2.79
So, the pitcherโs ERA is 2.79, which is excellent!
๐ก Why ERA Matters
ERA helps evaluate a pitcherโs effectiveness and consistency. Here’s what different ERA ranges generally mean:
ERA Range | Pitcher Performance |
---|---|
Under 2.00 | Elite |
2.00โ3.00 | Excellent |
3.00โ4.00 | Above Average |
4.00โ5.00 | Average |
Over 5.00 | Below Average |
โจ Tips for Accurate ERA Calculation
- Always convert partial innings properly (โ = 0.1, โ = 0.2).
- Only count earned runs, not runs from errors.
- Track innings pitched precisely from game logs.
๐ Summary
ERA is a simple but powerful tool for measuring pitching performance. Whether you’re a coach, player, or fan, keeping an eye on ERA can tell you a lot about how a pitcher is doing.
Use the calculator above to save time and get instant ERA values!