From Quality Launches to High-Value Launches: Insights into Candelaria and More

The discussion revolves around redefining baseball's “quality start” metric to a more robust measure, the “high-quality start” (HQS). While a quality start requires at least six innings pitched with a maximum of three earned runs, an HQS requires at least seven innings with two or fewer earned runs. This adjustment aims to raise the bar for effective pitching by adjusting it to higher performance standards that reflect greater team success. The current pitching leaders are highlighted, highlighting the discrepancy between quality and high-quality starts among MLB teams.

In numbers

• Teams with a win percentage of 0.689 achieve 112 wins over the course of the season if they get off to a good start.
• Only 11.5% of MLB starts this season are considered high-quality starts (HQS).

Current status

• The Cleveland Guardians have the fewest HQS in the Major League this season with just six.
• Logan Webb leads the MLB with 10 appearances with at least seven innings and no more than one earned run.

What's next

Future discussions will likely focus on the potential adoption of the HQS metric by analysts and leagues. This could inspire teams to develop deeper strategies around pitching performance and player development to increase their competitive advantage. In addition, ongoing evaluations of player statistics could provide insights into talent development among pitching staffs.

Conclusion

Redefining quality starts to “high-quality starts” presents a compelling narrative to better assess pitching effectiveness. By prioritizing these metrics, teams can gain a clearer understanding of pitcher durability and performance, leading to improved decision-making processes for roster management and game strategy.