Sign In
  • Support FanGraphs
    FanGraphs Membership
    FanGraphs Shirts
    FanGraphs Mugs
    Gift a Membership
    Donate to FanGraphs
  • Games
    Ottoneu Fantasy Baseball
    Signup, FAQ, Blog Posts
  • Blogs
    Blog Roll

    FanGraphs
    Podcasts: FanGraphs Audio | Effectively Wild | Chin Music

    FanGraphs Prospects

    RotoGraphs
    Podcasts: The Sleeper and The Bust | Field of Streams | Beat the Shift

    Community Research

    Archived Blogs: The Hardball Times | NotGraphs | TechGraphs | FanGraphs+
    Archived THT: THT Live | Dispatch | Fantasy | ShysterBall
    Archived Podcasts: Stealing Home | Doing It For Bartolo | OttoGraphs | UMP: The Untitled McDongenhagen Project
  • Projections
    2022 Pre-Season Projections
    ZiPS, ZiPS DC
    Steamer
    Depth Charts
    ATC
    THE BAT, THE BAT X
    2022 600 PA / 200 IP Projections
    Steamer600
    2022 Updated In-Season Projections
    ZiPS (RoS), ZiPS (Update)
    Steamer (RoS), Steamer (Update)
    Depth Charts (RoS)
    THE BAT (RoS), THE BAT X (RoS)
    3 Year Projections
    ZiPS 2023, ZiPS 2024
    On-Pace Leaders
    Every Game Played, Games Played %
    Auction Calculator
    Auction Calculator (New Interface)
  • Scores
    Today
    Live Scoreboard, Probable Pitchers
    Live Daily Leaderboards
    Win Probability & Box Scores
    2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017...
  • Standings
    2022 Projected Standings
    2022 Playoff Odds, Playoff Odds Graphs
    ZiPS Postseason Game-By-Game Odds
    AL East
    AL Central
    AL West
    NL East
    NL Central
    NL West
  • Leaders
    Major League Leaders
    Batting: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, Career
    Pitching: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, Career
    Fielding: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, Career
    Splits Leaderboards
    Season Stat Grid
    60-Game Span Leaderboards (Special)

    KBO Leaders
    Batting, Pitching

    Minor League Leaders
    AAA: Triple-A East, Triple-A West, Mexican
    AA: Double-A Northeast, Double-A South, Double-A Central
    A+: High-A Central, High-A East, High-A West
    A: Low-A West, Low-A East, Low-A Southeast
    R: Appalachian, Gulf Coast, Pioneer, Arizona
    R: Dominican
    WAR Tools
    Combined WAR Leaderboards
    WAR Graphs
    WPA Tools
    WPA Inquirer
    Rookie Leaders
    Batters 2022, Pitchers 2022
    Splits Leaders
    Batters: vs L, vs R, Home, Away
    Pitchers: vs L , vs R, Home, Away
  • Teams
    Team Batting Stats
    2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017...
    Team Pitching Stats
    2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017...
    Team WAR Totals (RoS)
    AL East
    Blue Jays  |  DC
    Orioles  |  DC
    Rays  |  DC
    Red Sox  |  DC
    Yankees  |  DC
    AL Central
    Guardians  |  DC
    Royals  |  DC
    Tigers  |  DC
    Twins  |  DC
    White Sox  |  DC
    AL West
    Angels  |  DC
    Astros  |  DC
    Athletics  |  DC
    Mariners  |  DC
    Rangers  |  DC
    NL East
    Braves  |  DC
    Marlins  |  DC
    Mets  |  DC
    Nationals  |  DC
    Phillies  |  DC
    NL Central
    Brewers  |  DC
    Cardinals  |  DC
    Cubs  |  DC
    Pirates  |  DC
    Reds  |  DC
    NL West
    D-backs  |  DC
    Dodgers  |  DC
    Giants  |  DC
    Padres  |  DC
    Rockies  |  DC
    Positional Depth Charts
    Batters: C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF, DH
    Pitchers: SP, RP
  • RosterResource
    Current Depth Charts
    AL East
    Blue Jays
    Orioles
    Rays
    Red Sox
    Yankees
    AL Central
    Guardians
    Royals
    Tigers
    Twins
    White Sox
    AL West
    Angels
    Astros
    Athletics
    Mariners
    Rangers
    NL East
    Braves
    Marlins
    Mets
    Nationals
    Phillies
    NL Central
    Brewers
    Cardinals
    Cubs
    Pirates
    Reds
    NL West
    D-backs
    Dodgers
    Giants
    Padres
    Rockies
    In-Season Tools
    2022 Closer Depth Chart
    2022 Injury Report
    2022 Lineup Tracker
    2022 Probables Grid
    2022 Schedule Grid
    2022 Transaction Tracker
    Offseason Tools
    2022 Opening Day Tracker
    2022 Offseason Tracker
    2022 Free Agent Tracker
  • Prospects
    Prospects Home
    THE BOARD!
    THE BOARD: Scouting + Stats!
    How To Use THE BOARD: A Tutorial
    Top Prospects List
    Top Prospects
    2022 2021
    AL
    BALCHWHOU
    BOSCLELAA
    NYYDETOAK
    TBRKCRSEA
    TORMINTEX
    NL
    ATLCHCARI
    MIACINCOL
    NYMMILLAD
    PHIPITSDP
    WSNSTLSFG
    AL
    BALCHWHOU
    BOSCLELAA
    NYYDETOAK
    TBRKCRSEA
    TORMINTEX
    NL
    ATLCHCARI
    MIACINCOL
    NYMMILLAD
    PHIPITSDP
    WSNSTLSFG

    • 2022 Preseason Top 100


    • 2021 Preseason Top 100

  • Glossary
    Library
    Batting Stats
    wOBA, wRC+, ISO, K% & BB%, more...
    Pitching Stats
    FIP, xFIP, BABIP, K/9 & BB/9, more...
    Defensive Stats
    UZR Primer, DRS, FSR, TZ & TZL, more...
    More
    WAR, UBR Primer, WPA, LI, Clutch
    Guts!
    Seasonal Constants
    Park Factors
    Park Factors by Handedness
  • Sign In
Help Support FanGraphs


Become a Member No Thanks
Already a member? Log In
  • Intro
  • Features
  • Offense
    • Complete List (Offense)
    • OBP
    • OPS and OPS+
    • wOBA
    • wRC and wRC+
    • wRAA
    • Off
    • BsR
    • UBR
    • wSB
    • wGDP
    • BABIP
    • ISO
    • HR/FB
    • Spd
    • Pull%/Cent%/Oppo%
    • Soft%/Med%/Hard%
    • GB%, LD%, FB%
    • K% and BB%
    • Plate Discipline (O-Swing%, Z-Swing%, etc.)
    • Pitch Type Linear Weights
    • Pace
  • Defense
    • Overview
    • Def
    • UZR
    • DRS
    • Defensive Runs Saved – 2020 Update
    • Inside Edge Fielding
    • Catcher Defense
    • FSR
    • RZR
    • TZ / TZL
  • Pitching
    • Complete List (Pitching)
    • ERA
    • WHIP
    • FIP
    • xFIP
    • SIERA
    • Strikeout and Walk Rates
    • Pull%/Cent%/Oppo%
    • Soft%/Med%/Hard%
    • GB%, LD%, FB%
    • BABIP
    • HR/FB
    • LOB%
    • Pitch Type Linear Weights
    • SD / MD
    • ERA- / FIP- / xFIP-
    • Plate Discipline (O-Swing%, Z-Swing%, etc.)
    • Pace
    • PITCHF/x
      • What is PITCHF/x?
      • Pitch Type Abbreviations & Classifications
      • Heat Maps
      • Common Mistakes
      • PITCHf/x Resources
  • WE/RE/LI
    • RE24
    • Win Expectancy
    • WPA
    • LI
    • WPA/LI
    • Clutch
  • Principles
    • DIPS
    • Regression toward the Mean
    • Replacement Level
    • Sample Size
    • Splits
    • Projection Systems
    • Linear Weights
    • Counting vs. Rate Statistics
    • Park Factors
    • Park Factors – 5 Year Regressed
    • Positional Adjustment
    • Aging Curve
    • League Equivalencies
    • Pythagorean Win-Loss
    • Luck
  • WAR
    • What is WAR?
    • WAR for Position Players
    • WAR for Pitchers
    • FDP
    • fWAR, rWAR, and WARP
    • WAR Misconceptions
  • Business

Game Score

by Neil Weinberg
April 25, 2016

Game Score was originally created by Bill James to measure the quality of individual starts. While most baseball fans are familiar with the traditional “pitching line” of Innings, Hits, Runs, Earned Runs, Walks, and Strikeouts, James’ Game Score consolidates those statistics into a single number that makes comparing starts easier.

Game Score isn’t meant to be a perfectly precise estimate of pitcher performance, but it is generally a useful tool when used properly. At FanGraphs, we publish Game Score Version 2.0 (GSv2), developed by Tom Tango, on our pitcher game log pages. You can find the original version of Game Score at Baseball-Reference or by calculating it yourself with data available here at FanGraphs.

Calculation:

Calculating Game Score (original or v2) is extremely simple, requiring some basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication. The original Game Score is calculated like this:

Game Score = 50 + Outs + 2*(IP Completed After the 4th) + Strikeouts – Hits – 4*Earned Runs – 2*Unearned Runs – Walks

Game Score Version 2.0 is calculated like this:

GSv2 = Constant + 2*Outs + Strikeouts – 2*Walks – 2*Hits – 3*Runs – 6*HR

The constant is designed so that the average game score in each league, each year is equal to 50. In 2015, the constant for both leagues was 38. In 2014, the AL constant was 37 and the NL constant was 36.

Why Game Score:

Game Score tries to answer the fundamental question, “how good was that start?” Its creators and proponents would not argue that Game Score answers the question in a definitive way, but it does a good job separate starts into various tiers.

For example, if Pitcher A’s line is 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (no HR) and Pitcher B’s is 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, and 7 K (no HR), which is better? There are a lot of ways to answer that question and Game Score is one such method. Using Game Score, Pitcher A has a Game Score of 62 and GSv2 of 58. Pitcher B has a Game Score of 62 and a GSv2 of 65. Generally speaking, those are very similar scores and we wouldn’t make a bold statement about who pitched better. Game Score allows us to arrive at that conclusion by consolidating the full lines into single numbers which we can compare directly.

How To Use Game Score:

Game Score is best used as a benchmark of individual pitcher performance in a given start. Game Score does not measure true talent directly and is not necessarily predictive of future performance. You should trust Game Score only as much as you trust its components. If you think outs, strikeouts, walks, runs, and home runs are useful statistics for judging a given start, Game Score is a quick way to compare performances. If you prefer to judge performance in other ways, Game Score might not be helpful. Game Score brings more information than wins/losses and quality starts, but less than a full statistical workup of a start.

It is helpful to see Game Score as a way to separate performances into tiers. Everyone knows 8 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K is a better start than 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, but Game Score allows you to slide both starts into an overall ranking system that you can use to compare many starts. It is important not to treat the exact values too rigidly, as an 84 and an 86 are not terribly different, but an 84 and a 64 are significantly different starts.

Context:

Game Score is designed so that league average is 50 and values higher than 50 are above average and values below 50 are below average. The original Game Score doesn’t quite adhere to this rule, but it adhere’s closely enough that you can still follow it. Game Score Version 2.0, as published on FanGraphs, adjusts the constant so that 50 is league average each season.

Game Score Rules of Thumb
Game Score Rating
0-10 Unspeakable
10-20 Awful
20-30 Bad
30-40 Poor
40-50 Below Average
50-60 Above Average
60-70 Good
70-80 Great
80-90 Excellent
90+ Make Sure Your Friends Are Watching

Links To Further Reading:

Game Score Version 2.0 – FanGraphs

Game Score – Baseball-Reference





Spray Charts
 
Park Factors – 5 Year Regressed

Neil Weinberg is the Site Educator at FanGraphs and can be found writing enthusiastically about the Detroit Tigers at New English D. Follow and interact with him on Twitter @NeilWeinberg44.

Comments are closed.


Updated: Sunday, July 3, 2022 11:09 PM ETUpdated: 7/3/2022 11:09 PM ET
Player Linker - @fangraphs - Contact Us - Advertise - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy
sis_logo
All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, and play-by-play data provided by Sports Info Solutions.
mlb logo
Major League and Minor League Baseball data provided by Major League Baseball.
Mitchel Lichtman
All UZR (ultimate zone rating) calculations are provided courtesy of Mitchel Lichtman.
TangoTiger.com
All Win Expectancy, Leverage Index, Run Expectancy, and Fans Scouting Report data licenced from TangoTiger.com
Retrosheet.org
Play-by-play data prior to 2002 was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet.