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Old 02-16-2019, 03:44 PM   #4
fredbeene
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Join Date: Aug 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Number4 View Post
If you have more runners on, the leverage is higher. A good pitcher will tend to get out with conceding less or no runs, while a bad pitcher will more likely let the runners score.
If a game is close and it is late innings, the leverage is also higher. The performance of the pitcher will likely decide the game.

A one run lead in the 5th might seem like a close lead, but your offense might score 5 runs in the 6th, and all of a sudden you can probably rest your best pitchers.
A one run lead in the 9th however means this is it. Blowing the lead is at least a tied game, or even a loss. So that is why the best relief pitcher is the closer.

Conversly, if your pitcher gets on with no runners and less than 3 outs, he is in a low leverage situation - unless a homer happens, you are more unlikely to string together enough hits and walks with less outs to work with, so a bad pitcher might get away with allowing runners to reach and you don't need to use your better ones.

The highest leverage situation is bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs in a 1-run game. A walk will tie it, a base hit most likely lose it.
THank you.
Is there a stat showing the average leverage situations a pitcher came in on?
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