What is a shutout in baseball?

A shutout in baseball occurs when a pitcher or a combination of pitchers do not allow the opposing team to score any runs throughout the entire game.

Shutouts are fairly rare in baseball, as they require strong pitching performances and solid defensive plays. They are often considered a mark of a dominant pitching performance.

There are two types of shutouts in baseball: a complete game shutout, in which a single pitcher pitches the entire game without allowing any runs, and a combined shutout, in which two or more pitchers combine to keep the opposing team from scoring.

Shutouts are recorded in the box score as "0" under the opposing team's runs column. Pitchers who throw shutouts are often praised for their skill and composure on the mound.