What is a quality start in baseball?

A quality start in baseball refers to a statistic that measures a starting pitcher's effectiveness in a game. To be credited with a quality start, a pitcher must pitch at least 6 innings and allow no more than 3 earned runs. Essentially, this means that the pitcher has given their team a chance to win the game by limiting the damage from the opposing team's offense.

The quality start statistic was officially recognized by Major League Baseball in 1985, and has become a common way to analyze and evaluate starting pitchers. It is considered a valuable accomplishment for a pitcher to consistently deliver quality starts throughout a season.

However, some critics argue that the quality start statistic is not the most accurate measure of a pitcher's performance, as it does not take into account other important factors such as strikeouts, walks, and pitch count. Nonetheless, it remains a widely recognized and utilized statistic in baseball.