The “quality start” category is a bit misleading.  Pitching 6 innings while allowing 3 earned runs yields a 4.50 ERA – that’s hardly quality.

Maybe Livan Hernandez’s agent had math degree…?  In all fairness, the statistic has some usefulness.  Johan Santana was the 2008 leader in QS with 28, so maybe it does indicate a pitcher’s talent to a certain degree.

Fantasy owners can treat the statistic as just another bit of information to consider.  And, under no circumstances, should Quality Starts be a scoring category in your league.  It’s best to redefine the category it in way that proves accurate and helpful.  Any of the samples below are certainly more creditable.

The simple answer is to increase the IP requirement for a quality start.   Allowing 3 earned runs over 7 IP equals a 3.86 ERA – more reasonable.  However, these are the days of late-inning specialists, making 7-inning starts scarce.

6 IP, 2 or less ER

If we are to stick with the 6-inning mark, it needs to be 2 earned runs. An even 3.00 ERA is acceptable to everyone.  But, considering the ever-dwindling number of 3.00 ERA pitchers, this mark may be too unattainable for most players.

5 IP, 2 or less ER

A pitcher has to complete 5 innings to qualify for a win.  If we use the 5 IP benchmark, 2 earned runs are possible (3.60 ERA).  Although lowering the IP threshold just somehow seems un-American.

Why stop there? Let’s break it down even further…

In order to complete a “quality inning pitched,” a pitcher must attain 4 out of the 5 requirements (80%).

A “QIP” has the following qualifications

1. Complete inning
2. 0 earned runs
3. 1 or less base runner
4. 18 or less pitches
5. Above 65% strikes thrown.

Completed inning

The pitcher actually has to complete the inning (partial innings, 1/3 or 2/3, are prohibited). 

Zero earned runs

The second criterion is a scoreless inning.  Allowing just 1 earned run yields a 9.00 ERA, so the pitcher has to escape with a goose egg on the board.  (Unearned runs would not count against the pitcher’s QIP).

Base Runners

A pitcher’s WHIP is a widely accepted measurement of effectiveness.  A 1.00 WHIP is the limit, so there can be no more than 1 hitter who reaches base via a walk or a hit.

Pitch count

The pitch count is a measure of efficiency.  Managers get nervous when a pitcher approaches the 100-pitch mark, and they get downright insane as the pitch total hits approaches 110-120.  The number of pitches per inning has to be in the 15-18 range (Tim Lincecum averaged about 16 P/IP over the past two years).  An 18-pitch, complete inning (6 pitches per out) is an appropriate maximum.

Strikes thrown

The percentage of pitches thrown for strikes can also be taken into account.  In general, a pitcher wants to stay above the 65-70% range (every 100 pitches results in 65 to 70 strikes).  Using 65% as the goal, a player completing a 12-pitch inning with 8 strikes and 4 balls (66.6%) would qualify.