Jacob deGrom posted a 1.08 ERA in 2020. It was the third-lowest single-season ERA in modern baseball history. But he didn't win the ERA title.
Why? He only pitched 68 innings in the shortened season. MLB's qualification rule requires a minimum number of innings pitched to officially lead the league in ERA.
So how many innings DO you need to qualify for the ERA title? And what happens when extraordinary circumstances — like a global pandemic — interfere with the normal season?
Here's everything you need to know about ERA title qualification.
The Rule: 162 Innings Pitched in MLB
Major League Baseball requires pitchers to throw at least 162 innings to qualify for the ERA title.
The Formula
Innings Required = Number of Team Games
In a standard 162-game MLB season, each team plays 162 games. Therefore, pitchers must pitch at least 162 innings — exactly one inning per team game.
This applies to both the American League and National League.
Why 162 Innings?
The logic behind this rule is simple: To qualify for a rate stat like ERA, you need a meaningful sample size.
A pitcher who throws 30 innings with a 1.50 ERA might just be lucky. A pitcher who throws 200 innings with a 2.50 ERA has demonstrated sustained excellence.
The "one inning per team game" standard ensures qualifying pitchers have worked a full season's worth of innings.
Historical Changes to the Rule
The ERA qualification rule hasn't always been 162 innings. It has evolved alongside baseball's schedule:
Early Baseball (Pre-1960s)
Before standardized rules, leagues had inconsistent qualification standards. Some years had no minimum. Other years used arbitrary thresholds.
This created situations where pitchers with tiny sample sizes (50-60 innings) won ERA titles despite not pitching regularly.
The Modern Era (1960s-Present)
When MLB standardized at 162 games per season in 1962, the qualification rule became formalized:
Innings Required = Number of Team Games
This meant:
- 154-game seasons: 154 IP required
- 162-game seasons: 162 IP required
The rule has remained consistent since then, with adjustments only for shortened seasons.
Shortened Seasons and Exceptions
What happens when the season doesn't reach 162 games?
2020: The COVID-19 Season
The 2020 season was shortened to 60 games. MLB adjusted the ERA qualification rule proportionally:
- Normal season: 162 games, 162 IP required
- 2020 season: 60 games, 60 IP required
This allowed pitchers to qualify with far fewer innings than normal. Shane Bieber led the AL with a 1.63 ERA in 77.1 innings. Trevor Bauer led the NL with a 1.73 ERA in 73 innings.
Both qualified because they exceeded the 60-inning threshold.
1994-1995: The Strike Seasons
The 1994 players' strike shortened that season to 112-115 games (depending on the team).
MLB adjusted the qualification rule accordingly. Greg Maddux won the NL ERA title with a 1.56 ERA in 202 innings — well above the reduced threshold.
1981: Another Strike Year
The 1981 season was shortened to about 110 games per team. The qualification threshold dropped to approximately 110 innings pitched.
The Exception Rule: Adding Innings at 0.00 ERA
MLB has a fascinating exception for pitchers who ALMOST qualify but fall short on innings.
The Exception
If a pitcher doesn't have enough innings to qualify, but adding enough 0.00 ERA innings to reach the threshold would still give them the ERA lead, they qualify anyway.
How It Works
Let's say a pitcher throws 155 innings with a 1.80 ERA. They're 7 innings short of qualifying.
MLB adds 7 hypothetical scoreless innings to their record:
- Old line: 155 IP, 31 ER, 1.80 ERA
- Adjusted line: 162 IP, 31 ER, 1.72 ERA
If that 1.72 ERA still leads the league, the pitcher qualifies and wins the ERA title.
If someone else has a lower ERA, the short-innings pitcher doesn't qualify.
Real Example: Pedro Martinez (1999)
Pedro Martinez pitched 213.1 innings in 1999 — well above the 162-inning threshold. But this exception rule has been used in closer cases.
The rule ensures that pitchers who barely miss the innings threshold but clearly deserve the ERA title can still win it.
Why The Rule Matters
The qualification rule prevents small-sample flukes from winning ERA titles.
Without The Rule: Absurd Outcomes
Imagine a pitcher who throws 30 innings with a 0.90 ERA, then gets injured for the season. Without a qualification rule, they'd win the ERA title despite pitching only 18% of a full workload.
That wouldn't reflect sustained excellence. It would reflect a hot streak.
The Innings Threshold Forces Consistency
To reach 162 innings, a starting pitcher typically needs to:
- Make 28-32 starts
- Average 5-6 innings per start
- Stay healthy most of the season
- Maintain performance across multiple months
This demonstrates real, sustained excellence — not just a lucky month.
Qualification Requirements in Other Leagues
Different leagues have different requirements:
| League | Season Length | IP Required |
|---|---|---|
| MLB | 162 games | 162 IP |
| Triple-A (MiLB) | 150 games | 150 IP |
| NPB (Japan) | 143 games | 143 IP |
| KBO (Korea) | 144 games | 144 IP |
| College Baseball | Varies (~56 games) | Typically 1 IP per team game |
The principle stays consistent across professional baseball: one inning per team game.
Notable ERA Title Winners Near The Threshold
Some pitchers barely qualified but still won ERA titles:
Pedro Martinez (2000)
Pedro pitched 217 innings with a 1.74 ERA in 2000 — the best ERA in baseball since 1978. He dominated while comfortably exceeding the threshold.
This wasn't a close call. But Pedro's workload management meant he occasionally flirted with the 162-inning minimum in other seasons.
Clayton Kershaw (Multiple Years)
Kershaw led the league in ERA five times (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017). His 2017 title came in only 175 innings — the lowest total among his five ERA titles.
Modern pitcher usage means fewer aces throw 220+ innings. Many ERA leaders now finish between 170-190 innings.
Jacob deGrom (2018-2020)
deGrom led the NL in ERA three straight years:
- 2018: 1.70 ERA in 217 IP (comfortable)
- 2019: 2.43 ERA in 204 IP (comfortable)
- 2020: 2.38 ERA in 68 IP (WON the title due to shortened season)
The 2020 season's adjusted qualification (60 IP) allowed deGrom to win despite his lowest innings total.
What About Relievers?
Relievers almost never qualify for the ERA title under standard rules.
Why Relievers Don't Qualify
Elite closers typically pitch 60-75 innings per season. Setup men pitch 70-85 innings. Neither approaches 162 innings.
To pitch 162 innings as a reliever, you'd need to:
- Average 1 inning per team game (impossible for specialized roles)
- Pitch in literally every game (unsustainable)
- Work multi-inning outings constantly (not how modern bullpens work)
The Last Reliever to Qualify: 1991
Dennis Eckersley threw 76 innings with a 2.96 ERA in 1991. He didn't qualify.
The last reliever to pitch 162+ innings in a season was Mike Marshall in 1979 (143 IP, but in a 162-game season he still fell short).
Modern bullpen usage makes it virtually impossible for relievers to accumulate qualification innings.
Reliever ERA Leaders
Baseball tracks unofficial reliever ERA leaders, but they don't receive the same recognition as qualified ERA champions. Some years, a reliever posts an absurdly low ERA (like a 0.80 in 75 innings), but they can't officially win the title.
The Modern Pitcher Workload Problem
Fewer pitchers reach 162 innings than in past eras.
Historical Context
1970s-1980s:
- Aces routinely threw 250-300 innings
- 20+ complete games per season was normal
- Qualifying for the ERA title was easy for full-time starters
2020s:
- Aces throw 180-200 innings
- Complete games are rare (5-10 per season league-wide)
- Many #1 starters finish with 165-175 innings
Will The Rule Change?
As pitcher workloads continue declining, some have proposed lowering the qualification threshold to 140-150 innings.
Arguments for change:
- Modern pitching usage makes 162 IP harder to reach
- Elite pitchers managed carefully don't accumulate innings like before
- The best pitcher in baseball might not qualify under current rules
Arguments against change:
- 162 IP = one inning per game is clean, logical standard
- Lowering threshold rewards pitchers who can't stay healthy
- If modern pitchers can't reach 162 IP, maybe they're not workhorse aces
For now, the rule remains 162 innings — and it's not changing anytime soon.
The Bottom Line
How many innings do you need to pitch to qualify for the ERA title?
In MLB: 162 innings (one inning per team game)
The rule:
- Standard season: 162 games = 162 IP required
- Shortened seasons: Prorated (2020 = 60 games = 60 IP)
- Exception rule: Can add 0.00 ERA innings to qualify if you'd still lead
Why it matters:
- Prevents small-sample flukes
- Ensures sustained excellence
- Forces pitchers to stay healthy and consistent
Modern challenges:
- Fewer pitchers throw 200+ innings now
- Workload management means careful usage
- Many aces finish 170-185 IP (still qualify, but closer to threshold)
If you're tracking ERA leaders mid-season, always check innings pitched. A pitcher with a 1.90 ERA in 120 innings might lead the stat sheet, but they won't win the title unless they reach 162 innings — or qualify via the exception rule.
Track Your Innings Pitched
Calculate ERA and track progress toward qualification.