Baseball Glossary › Runs Allowed
Runs Allowed (R / RA)
Runs allowed (R, or RA) is the total number of runs charged to a pitcher, both earned and unearned. A run is charged to the pitcher who let that runner reach base, even if a later pitcher gives up the hit. Unlike ERA, runs allowed does not remove runs that scored because of errors or passed balls.
Formula
Worked example (illustrative numbers): a pitcher is charged with 30 runs, 26 of them earned, in 120 innings.
RA9 = 9 x 30 / 120 = 2.25 runs allowed per nine innings
ERA = 9 x 26 / 120 = 1.95, lower because the 4 unearned runs are left out
What to Know
In a pitching line, R is runs allowed and ER is earned runs. The gap between them is unearned runs, which score only because of an error or passed ball. Earned run average uses ER, while RA9 uses every run. MLB's glossary describes RA9 as basically ERA with the E removed.
Some analysts prefer runs allowed because preventing all runs is the pitcher's job, and not every defensive lapse is ruled an error. Runs allowed is also charged by baserunner: if a reliever enters with runners on base and they score, those runs belong to the pitcher who put them on. On a team level, RA and RS mean runs allowed and runs scored, and the difference is run differential.
Hits allowed (H in a pitching line) is a separate count of hits given up. Hits and walks together drive WHIP, while runs allowed measures how many of those baserunners actually scored.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does runs allowed mean in baseball?
Runs allowed is the total number of runs charged to a pitcher or team, counting both earned and unearned runs. In a box score it usually appears as R in the pitching line, next to ER for earned runs.
What is the difference between runs allowed and earned runs?
Runs allowed counts every run charged to the pitcher. Earned runs exclude runs that scored only because of an error or a passed ball. So runs allowed is always equal to or higher than earned runs.
What do RA and RS mean in baseball?
RA is runs allowed and RS is runs scored. Teams compare the two to get run differential, a quick measure of how much better or worse a team has been than its opponents.
What does hits allowed mean?
Hits allowed, shown as H in a pitching line, is the number of hits a pitcher gave up. It is different from runs allowed, which counts how many runners actually scored.
Who is charged with a run when a reliever comes in?
The run is charged to the pitcher who allowed that runner to reach base. If a starter leaves with a runner on second and the reliever gives up a hit that scores him, the run belongs to the starter.
What is RA9 in baseball?
RA9 is runs allowed per nine innings, calculated as 9 times runs allowed divided by innings pitched. It works like ERA but counts unearned runs too.
Related Terms
Sources
- MLB.com Glossary: Run (R)
- MLB.com Glossary: Earned Run (ER)
- MLB.com Glossary: Unearned Run (UER)
- MLB.com Glossary: Runs Allowed Per Nine Innings (RA9)
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