In high school ball, how many innings does the starting pitcher need to go in order to log the win? In MLB they must go 5 - more than half the game. I would assume it should be 4 for high school. However, there are no stat rules for HS and everyone gives the starter the "W" regardless, so I just follow along. Just wondered what others do.
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I think you are right in general. The exception would be if you had a guy throw 3 strong innings, leaves with a big lead, and multiple guys pitched in relief. I'd give the starter the win. I've seen the starter credited with the win with 2 innings in that situation too.
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations 2018 Rulebook:
Rule 9, Section 6
“ART. 6 . . . Winning and losing pitchers are determined as follows:
a. If the starting pitcher has pitched the first four innings or more and his team is ahead when he is replaced and the team holds the lead for the remainder of the game, he shall be the winning pitcher.
b. If a game ends for whatever reason, having gone less than seven innings, then the starting pitcher shall have pitched three or more consecutive innings to be declared the winning pitcher. If the starting pitcher cannot be declared the winning pitcher, and more than one relief pitcher is used, the winning pitcher shall be determined using the following criteria:
1. If the score is tied, it results in the game becoming a new contest so far as judging who is the winning and losing pitcher.
2. If the starting pitcher is removed before having pitched four or more innings and his team is ahead, the official scorer shall determine the winning pitcher to be the relief pitcher who has been the most effective.
3. If the opposition goes ahead, pitchers up to that time in the game cannot be credited with the win. However, if the pitcher pitching subsequently takes and maintains a lead the remainder of the game, said pitcher is credited with the win”
Excerpt From
2018 NFHS Baseball Rules Book
NFHS
https://itunes.apple.com/us/bo...k/id1314997555?mt=11
This material may be protected by copyright.
I remember seeing something saying that the starter was allowed to be credited with the Win even without the required innings, if he was on a predetermined pitch count and it was stated before the game. Not sure if this was a State communication or somewhere in the Fed interpretations...
T_Thomas posted:I remember seeing something saying that the starter was allowed to be credited with the Win even without the required innings, if he was on a predetermined pitch count and it was stated before the game. Not sure if this was a State communication or somewhere in the Fed interpretations...
That's in college.....don't think it's in the NFHS rulebook
Not exactly what I had seen before, but below is a quote from an old NFHS manual with the same basic idea...
NFHS Statisticians Manual:
https://www.nfhs.org/media/865...stat_manual_2003.pdf
SECTION 19: Winning and Losing Pitchers Provision 1: The starting pitcher must pitch at least four innings to get credit for the win. Additionally, the winning pitcher’s team must be in the lead when the pitcher is replaced and must remain in the lead for the rest of the game. If a game ends, for whatever reason, having gone fewer than seven innings, then the starting pitcher must have pitched three or more consecutive innings to be declared the winning pitcher. If the starting pitcher cannot be declared the winning pitcher, and more than one relief pitcher plays, the win is credited to a relief pitcher in the following manner: a) the winning relief pitcher shall be the one who is the pitcher of record when the team goes ahead and remains ahead throughout the remainder of the game. No pitcher may receive credit for a victory if the opposing team ties the score or goes ahead after the pitcher has left the game, Note: Whenever the score is tied, the game becomes a new contest as far as the winning and losing pitchers are concerned. Exception: If a relief pitcher conforms to the above regulations but pitches briefly and ineffectively, the scorer should not credit the relief pitcher with the win. If a succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively and helps maintain the lead, the scorer may award the win to that succeeding pitcher. b) by pre-arrangement, if three or more pitchers are to be used, the pitcher of record shall be considered the winning pitcher.
