Calculate ERA
An ERA is a number that sums up a pitcher’s performance based on his past performance. An Earned Runs Average (ERA) is a measure of how many runs a pitcher gives up over a game of nine innings on average. It is the earned runs that he would have if he pitched for nine innings straight in a game.
The method of calculating ERA is a sort of extrapolation based on the career performance of a pitcher. While the average ERA of pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB) tends to be around 4.5, the best pitchers have an ERA ranging between 2.5 and 3. You can evaluate the ERA of any pitcher on your own, with knowledge of certain parameters that include his earned runs and the total number of innings pitched by him. Let us have a look at formulas used to calculate ERA in baseball and softball.
How to Calculate ERA in Baseball?
Calculating ERA in baseball is quite simple. Just get hold of the number of total earned runs of a pitcher and the total number of innings for which he has pitched, and use the following formula for calculation of ERA.
Formula for ERA Calculation in Baseball = [(Earned Runs) x 9] / (Innings Pitched)
To put it simply just divide the earned runs by the total number of innings pitched and multiple the result by 9 to get the ERA. There is one rule that must be remembered regarding fractional number of innings pitched, which need to be rounded up with a value of 0.333 per out. If a pitcher has number of pitched innings to be 12.1 (twelve innings and one out), then convert it to 12.33. If the number of innings pitched is 12.2 (twelve innings and two out), then convert it to 12.666 before diving the earned runs with it. Remember to consider earned runs only and do not confuse it with total runs.
How to Calculate ERA in Softball?
In softball, the calculation remains almost same, with the only difference being, that you multiply by 7 instead of 9. The formula used to calculate ERA in softball is as follows: Read the rest of this entry »
