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Wins, as a simple metric to look at to give you an idea how well a pitcher performed, started losing value as starters began to pitch less innings per start. In a scenario where a starter is rarely going five innings, mediocre relievers will pick up a lot of wins due to the esoteric MLB rules for scoring a win. I have no idea why a starter that goes four innings and leaves with a lead is somehow less deserving of a win than the reliever that pitches the two innings after him. I expect though that back when the rule was written, if a starter went less than five innings and the team won, it almost always meant that the pitcher who replaced him finished the game. Obviously not the case in the context of your league or current MLB.
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