WHIP Calculator
Calculate Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched for baseball pitchers
Calculate WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched)
Total hits allowed by pitcher
Total walks (base on balls) allowed
Total innings pitched (e.g., 6.2 for 6⅔ innings)
Results
WHIP Analysis
About WHIP
What is WHIP?
WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched) is a sabermetric statistic that measures the number of base runners a pitcher allows per inning pitched. It's one of the most popular ways to assess a pitcher's effectiveness.
Formula
WHIP = (Hits + Walks) / Innings Pitched
Performance Scale
- • < 1.00: Elite
- • 1.00-1.10: Excellent
- • 1.10-1.25: Very Good
- • 1.25-1.40: Good
- • 1.40-1.60: Average
- • > 1.60: Below Average
Key Point
Lower WHIP values are better. A WHIP of 1.00 means the pitcher allows exactly one base runner per inning on average.
All-Time WHIP Leaders
- Addie Joss - 0.9678
- Ed Walsh - 0.9996
- Mariano Rivera - 1.0003
- Clayton Kershaw - 1.0067
- Chris Sale - 1.0325
- John Ward - 1.0438
- Pedro Martinez - 1.0544
- Christy Mathewson - 1.0581
- Trevor Hoffman - 1.0584
- Walter Johnson - 1.0612
Improving WHIP
Strike Zone Control
Focus on throwing strikes consistently. Work on command of all pitches to reduce walks.
Pitch Selection
Use effective pitch combinations to keep hitters off balance and generate weak contact.
Location, Location, Location
Work the corners of the strike zone. Avoid pitches in hitter-friendly zones.
First-Strike Percentage
Getting ahead in the count gives you more options and reduces the likelihood of walks.
Understanding WHIP in Baseball
The Importance of WHIP
WHIP is considered one of the most reliable indicators of a pitcher's effectiveness because it measures their ability to prevent base runners. Unlike ERA, which can be influenced by fielding and situational luck, WHIP focuses purely on what the pitcher controls: preventing hits and walks.
The statistic was popularized by Daniel Okrent, who used it as a key metric in his fantasy baseball leagues. It has since become a standard evaluation tool for scouts, analysts, and fans alike.
A low WHIP indicates that a pitcher consistently limits scoring opportunities for the opposing team, making them highly valuable to their team's success.
WHIP vs Other Statistics
WHIP vs ERA
While ERA measures runs allowed, WHIP measures base runners allowed. WHIP can be a better predictor of future ERA performance since it's less dependent on defensive play and luck.
WHIP vs FIP
FIP focuses on strikeouts, walks, and home runs (things pitchers control), while WHIP includes all hits and walks. Both are valuable for different analytical purposes.
WHIP vs BAA
Batting Average Against (BAA) only considers hits per at-bat, while WHIP includes walks and is normalized per inning pitched, providing a more complete picture.
Historical Context
The all-time WHIP leader, Addie Joss, played in the early 1900s when baseball was quite different. His career WHIP of 0.9678 is considered nearly untouchable in the modern era.
Among modern pitchers, Mariano Rivera and Clayton Kershaw represent the gold standard. Rivera's closing expertise and Kershaw's dominance as a starter show that elite WHIP can be achieved in different roles.
League-average WHIP has generally increased over time as offensive strategies have evolved, making sub-1.20 WHIP particularly impressive in today's game.
Modern Usage and Analysis
Today's analysts often use WHIP in combination with other metrics like FIP, xFIP, and SIERA to get a complete picture of pitcher performance. WHIP remains valuable because it's simple to understand and calculate.
Fantasy baseball players heavily rely on WHIP as one of the standard scoring categories, making it crucial for evaluating pitcher value in competitive leagues.
Scouts use WHIP trends to identify developing pitchers who may be improving their command or established pitchers who might be declining, making it valuable for player development and acquisition decisions.