WHIP — walks plus hits per inning pitched — measures how many batters a pitcher lets reach base. Unlike ERA, it does not depend on whether those runners eventually score, which makes it a cleaner snapshot of a pitcher’s control and how hard he is to hit. It is also one of the standard categories in fantasy baseball.
How to use the WHIP calculator
- Enter walks (BB), including intentional walks.
- Enter hits allowed (H).
- Enter innings pitched in box-score form: 7, 6.1 (6⅓) or 6.2 (6⅔).
The tape shows WHIP to two decimals with a rough rating, plus baserunners per nine innings, hits per nine (H/9) and walks per nine (BB/9).
WHIP formula
Partial innings are thirds: 6.1 means 6 + 1/3 = 6.333 innings and 6.2 means 6.667. Treating 6.1 as a decimal (6.1) slightly inflates the result, so the calculator converts innings to outs first.
Related per-nine rates scale the same counts to a full game:
Worked example
A starter allows 45 walks and 160 hits in 185.2 innings.
- Baserunners: 45 + 160 = 205.
- Innings: 557 outs ÷ 3 = 185.667.
- WHIP = 205 ÷ 185.667 = 1.10 — very good.
- Per nine innings: 9.9 baserunners, 7.8 hits and 2.2 walks.
WHIP benchmarks
| WHIP | Rough rating |
|---|---|
| Under 1.00 | Excellent |
| 1.00–1.09 | Great |
| 1.10–1.24 | Above average |
| 1.25–1.32 | Around average |
| 1.33–1.39 | Below average |
| 1.40–1.49 | Poor |
| 1.50 and up | Very poor |
These are informal guides for major league pitchers; league-wide WHIP has typically landed in the mid-1.2s to low 1.3s in recent seasons. For context, Pedro Martinez’s 0.737 in 2000 meant fewer than three baserunners every four innings.
WHIP vs. ERA
ERA counts what happened — runs that scored — while WHIP counts the opportunities a pitcher gave the other team. A pitcher can post a low ERA with a high WHIP by stranding runners, but that usually does not last, because scoring rates track baserunners over a long season. Comparing the two helps spot pitchers who have been lucky or unlucky. Calculate the other half with the ERA calculator.
A short history
WHIP was invented in 1979 by writer Daniel Okrent, who called it “innings pitched ratio” when he created rotisserie (fantasy) baseball. It caught on with fantasy players first and is now listed on major league stat pages alongside ERA.
WHIP ignores hit batters, errors and the quality of contact, so use it with strikeout rate and ERA rather than on its own.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate WHIP?
Add walks and hits allowed, then divide by innings pitched. A pitcher with 45 walks and 160 hits in 185⅔ innings has a WHIP of 205 ÷ 185.667 = 1.10.
What is a good WHIP?
Around 1.25–1.32 is roughly league average in modern major league baseball. Under 1.10 is very good, and under 1.00 is elite. Above 1.40 means a pitcher is allowing too many baserunners.
Do hit batters or errors count in WHIP?
No. WHIP counts only walks (including intentional walks) and hits. Batters reached by hit-by-pitch, error or fielder's choice are left out, even though they are also baserunners.
Who has the lowest single-season WHIP?
Among qualified pitchers, Pedro Martinez's 0.737 WHIP in 2000 is the modern major league record. The lowest career WHIP belongs to Addie Joss at about 0.968.