What is WHIP in baseball? A comprehensive guide

A reliable statistic that is often used to assess a pitcher's effectiveness is WHIP, an acronym for walks plus hits per inning pitched. This metric provides insight into how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning, combining the number of walks and hits they give up. A lower WHIP suggests that the pitcher is more successful at preventing opposing players from reaching base, which generally correlates with better overall pitching performance. As such, pitchers with low WHIP numbers are usually considered to be more dominant and effective in controlling the game.

What is WHIP in baseball?

WHIP is a crucial baseball statistic that evaluates a pitcher's ability to keep runners off the bases by combining the total number of walks and hits they allow, then applying that figure to the innings they have pitched.

For instance, let's consider Starting Pitcher A, who pitches nine innings and allows a total of five hits and four walks during that time. To calculate his WHIP, you would add the walks and hits together (five hits + four walks = nine), and then divide this number by the total innings pitched (nine innings). In this case, the WHIP would be 1.00, meaning that on average, Pitcher A allows one walk or hit per inning pitched.

A WHIP of 1.00 is generally considered excellent, as it indicates that the pitcher is highly effective at minimizing the number of baserunners. Lower WHIP values suggest that a pitcher is better at controlling the game and preventing the opposing team from gaining scoring opportunities, making it a key metric for evaluating pitching performance in baseball.

Is WHIP the most important pitching stat?

WHIP, which stands for walks plus hits per inning pitched, is often regarded as one of the top indicators of a pitcher’s skill and effectiveness. This statistic provides a clear measure of how well a pitcher prevents opposing players from reaching base, making it a critical factor in evaluating performance.

For those interested in sports betting, WHIP is a valuable metric to consider when developing a betting strategy. It offers insight into a pitcher's consistency and ability to control the game, which can be crucial when making informed wagers on online sports betting sites.

The importance of WHIP is underscored by its prominence among recent Cy Young Award winners, an honor given annually to the best pitchers in the American League and National League. Over the past five years, at least one of the Cy Young winners each year also led their league in WHIP:

• 2023: Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
• 2022: Justin Verlander, Houston Astros
• 2021: Robbie Ray, Toronto Blue Jays
• 2020: Trevor Bauer, Cincinnati Reds
• 2019: Justin Verlander, Houston Astros

While WHIP is a critical stat, it’s not the only one that matters. Other essential pitching metrics include Earned Run Average (ERA), which calculates the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings, and Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), which focuses solely on the aspects a pitcher can control—walks, strikeouts, and home runs. Each of these statistics provides a different perspective on a pitcher's overall performance, making them all valuable tools for analysis.

How WHIP affects your betting

When betting on baseball games, WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) is arguably the most crucial statistic to consider. This metric offers a clear picture of a pitcher's ability to prevent baserunners, which directly influences the outcome of a game.

Before placing any wagers, especially on the best MLB sportsbooks, it's essential to evaluate the WHIP of the starting pitcher. This data helps you gauge the pitcher's strength and predict how well they might perform in a given game. 

Whether you're betting on the outcome of a full game or exploring specific prop bets like a No Runs First Inning (NRFI), WHIP serves as a valuable reference point. Understanding a pitcher's WHIP can give you a significant edge, helping you make more informed and potentially successful betting decisions.

What is considered a good WHIP in baseball?

A WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) below 1.00 is rare and represents elite performance. Over the past seven years, only twice has the leader in the American League or National League recorded a WHIP above 1.00. 

The average WHIP in Major League Baseball hovers around 1.30, so pitchers who consistently maintain a WHIP of 1.20 or lower are considered among the best in the game. 

One standout example is Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros. Since 2014, Verlander has kept his WHIP under 1.18 every season, with the only exception being that year when he finished with a WHIP of 1.39. What makes Verlander's achievement even more remarkable is his longevity—he was 32 years old in 2015, and he has continued to deliver outstanding WHIP numbers well into his 40s.

Even in the 2023 season, at age 41, Verlander maintained a WHIP of 1.12 over 68 innings, demonstrating his enduring ability to dominate on the mound. This consistency in keeping his WHIP low over many years highlights not only his talent but also the importance of WHIP as a key measure of a pitcher's effectiveness.