What's called a quality start?

[chargerss24]

What's the MLB rule for quality starts....6IP/3ER or 7IP/3ER? If it's one or the other, can it be changed on CBS Sportsline?
Thanks!

[sportsguy138]

Not sure if it can be changed on CBS, but it's when the pitcher pitches six or more innings and gives up three earned runs or less.

[JTWood]

Yep, 6+ IP with 3 or less ER.

Note: While a 6-inning, 3-run (4.50 ERA) performance is a QS, an 8-inning, 4-run (4.50 ERA) and a 9-inning, 4-run (4.44 ERA) performance are not.

I love MLB!

[J35J]

Actually I believe it is 3 runs...not 3 earned runs.

If a guy goes 6 IP with 5 runs scored but only 3 earned runs I don't think that is a quality start. I had originally thought it was as well but I thought I heard on Royals postgame that they mentioned it being 3 runs period, not just 3 earned runs.

correct me if I'm wrong.... I'll go see if I can find the definate definition...

[J35J]

Actually I believe it is 3 runs...not 3 earned runs.

If a guy goes 6 IP with 5 runs scored but only 3 earned runs I don't think that is a quality start. I had originally thought it was as well but I thought I heard on Royals postgame that they mentioned it being 3 runs period, not just 3 earned runs.

correct me if I'm wrong.... I'll go see if I can find the definate definition...

Scratch that...I guess it is earned runs. I guess I either heard wrong or that Royals guy was wrong....

carry on.... ignore me!

[StlSluggers]

I guess I either heard wrong or that Royals guy was wrong....

I'm going with the latter. Given the franchise, that makes the most sense.

[chargerss24]

I was asking because I'd like to propose replacing our W catagory with QS. I know a few owners (myself included) would like to see a QS be 7IP/3ER if it were going to be replacing our W catagory. At 6/3, that catagory would not be that valuable because our last place team has an ERA of 4.20. At 7/3, it would thin the field out a bit in that catagory, but I don't think it can be changed on CBS Sportsline.

Thanks for the info!

[StlSluggers]

I would go with QS over W anyway just because QS is a better indicator of a pitcher's performance than the W, which is extraordinarily team-dependent.

[chargerss24]

I would go with QS over W anyway just because QS is a better indicator of a pitcher's performance than the W, which is extraordinarily team-dependent.

I totally agree with you. Not only does a pitcher have to rely on run suppport, he also has to rely on his bullpen to not blow the lead.

Fact of the matter is, that most owners in our league would like to see QS take over for W's, but they would only go for it if it was changed to 7IP/3ER from 6IP/3ER just to spread out the owners in that statistic and I don't think there's a way to determine what a quality start is on CBS Sportsline.

[StlSluggers]

I've never seen a league that let you set the parameters of a QS, fwtw.