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Average Pitching Strike to Ball Ratio


Average MLB pitchers throw 62% strikes, and better pitchers throw strikes 65% of the time, or roughly 2:1 strikes to balls.

According to FanGraphs.com there were 717,053 pitches thrown in MLB during 2009, 269,484 (38%) were called balls, and 447,569 (62%) were called strikes.

The top Strike to-Ball Percentage was 69% thrown by 7 pitchers, 68% by 10 pitchers.

500 pitchers (of the 666 total MLB pitchers) threw strikes at least 60% of the time. 660 pitchers threw at least 48% strikes.

Select relievers (below) threw 4,434 strikes (65%) out of 6,787 total pitches.

Select starters (below) threw 22,179 strikes (65%) out of 34,296 total pitches.

Selected MLB Pitchers - Strikes Pitched 2009

Pitcher (S)tarter
(R)eliever
ERA Strikes %
Jonathan BroxtonR2.6166%
Mariano RiveraR1.7667%
Joe NathanR2.1064%
Trevor HoffmanR1.8365%
Phil HughesR1.4065%
Jonathan PabelbonR1.8565%
Chris CarpenterS2.2465%
Felix HernandezS2.4964%
Roy HalladayS2.7969%
Adam WainwrightS2.6364%
Josh BeckettS3.8665%
Scott FeldmanS3.7961%
Tim LincecumS2.4864%
CC SabathiaS3.3765%
Zack GreinkeS2.1663%
Justin VerlanderS3.4567%