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Win

An exception to this is that a pitcher who starts a game cannot be credited with a win if he does not pitch at least five innings. If his team takes a lead it does not relinquish while that pitcher is in the game, the win is awarded to the relieving pitcher who, in the judgment of the scorer, pitched the most effectively. The winning pitcher cannot, however, be a pitcher who is credited with a save in the same game.

A loss (denoted by "L") is charged to the pitcher who, in a game lost by his team, is charged with allowing the run that gives the opposing team a lead they do not relinquish for the remainder of the game.

The pitcher who gives up a hit to score the "go-ahead run" does not necessarily receive the loss. For example, in a tie ball game, if pitcher A walks a batter and then is relieved by pitcher B who then give up a home run, the first run allowed is recorded to pitcher A and the second to pitcher B. Thus, pitcher A gave up the run that gave the opposing team the lead, and pitcher A will be credited with the loss if the other team does not relinquish the lead, even though pitcher B was on the mound when the go-ahead hit occurred.

Every game (excluding the rare tie game) has both a winning and a losing pitcher. A pitcher's total wins and losses are commonly noted together; a pitching record of 15-10 indicates 15 wins and 10 losses.

A pitcher's winning percentage, standardly expressed to three digits, is calculated by dividing their wins by their total decisions (wins plus losses), as in the formula:

W / (W + L)

Table of contents

1 Records 1.1 Career Wins 1.2 Career Losses

Records

Career Wins

• Cy Young - 511
• Walter Johnson - 417
• Grover Cleveland Alexander - 373
• Christy Mathewson - 373
• Pud Galvin - 364
• Warren Spahn - 363
• Kid Nichols - 361
• Tim Keefe - 342
• Steve Carlton - 329
• John Clarkson - 328
• Eddie Plank - 326
• Nolan Ryan - 324
• Don Sutton - 324
• Roger Clemens - 318
• Phil Niekro - 318
• Gaylord Perry - 314
• Tom Seaver - 311
• Charles Radbourn - 309
• Mickey Welch - 307
• Lefty Grove - 300
• Early Wynn - 300