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MLB Scoring Rules

How is the scoring calculated for baseball?

Updated this week

Pitcher Stats

  • Strikeouts (K): The number of strikeouts recorded by a pitcher. A strikeout occurs when a pitcher throws any combination of three swinging or looking strikes to a hitter.

  • Hits Allowed (HA): The number of hits a pitcher gives up. A hit occurs when a batter strikes the baseball into fair territory and reaches base without doing so via an error or a fielder's choice. If a player is thrown out attempting to take an extra base (e.g., turning a single into a double), that still counts as a hit. Walks do not count towards hits allowed.

  • Earned Runs (ER): The number of earned runs scored against a pitcher. An earned run is any run that scores against a pitcher without the benefit of an error or a passed ball. If a pitcher exits a game with runners on base, any earned runs scored by those runners will count against him.

  • Outs (OUTS): The total number of team outs recorded while a pitcher is in the game. An out is recorded when a player at bat or a baserunner is retired by the team in the field.

  • Pitcher Walks (P BB): The number of batters walked by a pitcher. A walk (or base on balls) occurs when a pitcher throws four pitches out of the strike zone, none of which are swung at by the hitter. The walks stat includes intentional walks.

  • Batter Walks (BB): The number of times a batter is awarded first base from a walk (four balls), including any intentional walks. Hit by pitch is not considered a batter walk.

  • First Strikeout and Earned Run: The pitcher must record the first of listed stats of the game, including opposing team.

  • Pitcher Wins (W): For a pitcher to receive a Win they must: pitch at least five innings (in a traditional game of nine innings or longer) to qualify for the win. They must also be the pitcher of record when their team takes the lead for good - with a couple of rare exceptions.

Baseball Pitching FAQs:

  • Walks allowed by a pitcher includes traditional walks and intentional walks but does NOT included a batter hit by pitch.

  • Pitches thrown is scored based on the official MLB boxscore and only includes pitches thrown by the specific pitcher in the entry.

  • Hits allowed is based on the official MLB boxscore where they determine if a batter reached based by hit or an error.

  • Earned runs allowed is based on the official MLB boxscore and excludes unearned runs. A pitcher may accrual earned runs after leaving a game, due to runners left on base.

  • Pitching Outs are the sum of outs a pitcher has completed.

  • If a reliever inherentes a "Phantom" runner on Second-Base at the start of extra innings, the Pitcher will be credited with an unearned run if the "Phantom" runner scores.

  • For a pitcher to receive a Win they must: pitch at least five innings (in a traditional game of nine innings or longer) to qualify for the win. They must also be the pitcher of record when their team takes the lead for good. For example if Gerrit Cole pitches 5 innings without giving up a run, and he exits the game with the Yankees winning 1-0, and the game ends 1-0 he will be credited with a Win. If Cole was the away pitcher pitching Six innings and leaves the game in a tie or is losing, and the Yankees take the lead in the top of the 7th inning, if Cole does not re-enter the game he will be eligible for a win if there is not another lead change. If there is a lead change he credited with a No Decision.

Batter Stats

  • Singles (1B): The number of singles hit by a batter. A single occurs when a batter hits the ball and reaches first base without the help of an intervening error. Doubles, triples, and home runs do not count towards the singles stat.

  • Total Bases (BASES): The number of bases gained by a batter through his hits. A batter records one total base for a single, two total bases for a double, three total bases for a triple and four total bases for a home run. Walks, errors, and hit by pitch occurrences do not count towards total bases.

  • Hits (HITS): The number of hits by a batter. A hit occurs when a batter strikes the baseball into fair territory and reaches base without doing so via an error or a fielder's choice. There are four types of hits in baseball: singles, doubles, triples and home runs. If a player is thrown out attempting to take an extra base (e.g., turning a single into a double), that still counts as a hit. Walks do not count towards hits.

  • Runs (RUNS): The number of runs scored by a player. A player is awarded a run if he crosses the plate to score his team a run. When tallying runs scored, the way in which a player reached base is not considered. If a player reaches base by an error or a fielder's choice, as long as he comes around to score, he is still credited with a run. If a player scores a run with two outs or less and the inning is ended due to a non-force out, the run will count.

  • Runs Batted In (RBI): The number of runs batted in by a player. A batter is credited with an RBI in most cases where the result of his plate appearance is a run being scored. There are a few exceptions, however. A player does not receive an RBI when the run scores as a result of an error or ground into double play or a run is scored due to a Wild Pitch or Passed Ball. The most common examples of RBIs are run-scoring hits. However, players also receive an RBI for a bases-loaded walk or hit by pitch. Players can earn RBIs when they make outs, as well, provided the out results in a run or runs (except, as noted above, in the case of double plays).

  • First Hit, RBI, Run and Home Run: The batter must record the first of listed stats of the game, including opposing team.

The stats/lineups are live and are as accurate as we can make them. With that being said, they are provided for your convenience. They should NOT be considered authoritative, and refunds will not be issued if the information included on them is inaccurate.

Hitters must be in the starting lineup and record one plate appearance to be eligible. Otherwise they will be counted as a “Did Not Play”. The pick will be voided, and your entry payout will be changed accordingly.

  • Total bases is the number of bases a player has gained with hits. It is a weighted sum for which the weight value is 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run. Walks, hit by pitch, reaching on an error and reaching on fielder's choice all equal 0.

  • A player Hit by pitch is not considered as a walk in single stat for Hit+walk

MLB VOID Policy

  • If a player that you included in your entry doesn't start in the game, this selection will automatically void regardless of if you took the over or the under. For example, if you selected Wilmer Flores to have more than 0.5 hits in the game and he doesn't start, but he comes off the bench and gets a pinch hit, this selection will still void because he didn't start the game. The selection would also void if he didn't get a hit as well.

  • If a game that has started is suspended, due to a rain delay or other deferral, and resumes within 36 hours of the originally scheduled start time (local time), then all wagers will stand. If a game starts, is then suspended, and resumes more than 36 hours after the originally scheduled start time (local time), all existing wagers will be void unless they have been determined prior to the game’s suspension.

  • If a position player is forced to leave the game before recording two Plate Appearances, they will be voided. A batter does not receive a plate appearance if a runner is thrown out on the bases to end the inning while he is at bat, or if the game-winning run scores on a balk, wild pitch or passed ball while he is at bat.

  • Starting Pitchers will be Voided if they are removed from the game with a clear and obvious injury or inclement weather before recording forty-five pitches.

Stats Glossary and Correlated Pairings

Any Hit: If the batter is credited with a single, double, triple or home run.

Any Out: If the batter makes an out. Note that if the batter hits into a fielder's choice, that is NOT counted in this category. A sacrifice bunt/fly IS considered an out by the batter.

Walk/Other: Any outcome that's not covered by the other categories: walk, hit by pitch, reached on error, catcher's interference, fielder's choice, etc.

Total Bases: All bases achieved by the batter's HITS only. Anything that does not count as a HIT (walk, HBP, reached on error, etc.) will not be counted towards total bases.

Cumulative projections: Any projection joined by the plus (+) symbol means that that pick is a combination of those stats. 'Runs + RBI' for example is the combination of two different stats.

The following stat combinations are not able to be submitted on Chalkboard Picks:

Pitching Strikeouts, Hits Allowed, Earned Runs, Walks or Outs PLUS Opposing Batter with any of the following: Singles, Doubles, Triples, Home Runs, Total Bases, Hits, H+R+RBI, Runs, RBIs, Batter SO or Batter Walk.

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