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Game score is a metric devised by Bill James as a rough overall gauge of a starting pitcher's performance in a baseball game. It is designed such that scores tend to range from 0–100, with an average performance being around 50 points.[1]

Formula

[edit]

To determine a starting pitcher's game score:[1]

  • Start with 50 points.
  • Add one point for each out recorded, so three points for every complete inning pitched.
  • Add two points for each inning completed after the fourth.
  • Add one point for each strikeout.
  • Subtract two points for each hit allowed.
  • Subtract four points for each earned run allowed.
  • Subtract two points for each unearned run allowed.
  • Subtract one point for each walk.

History

[edit]

James first introduced game score in the 1988 edition of his Baseball Abstract. He called it "a kind of garbage stat that I present not because it helps us understand anything in particular but because it is fun to play around with."[2]

Other versions

[edit]

James has noted that there are cases in which his original version of game score does not accurately reflect a pitcher's performance.[3]

In a September 2003 article in Baseball Prospectus, Dayn Perry created an updated formula based on the ideas behind defense-independent pitching statistics, named Game Score 2.0.[4]

In December 2014, statistician Tom Tango made another attempt at updating the formula, which he also called "Game Score Version 2.0".[5] This version applies a base of 40 points to starting pitchers' game scores (instead of 50), adjusts the point values of certain in-game events, and introduces a penalty for giving up home runs into the equation.[6] Game Score Version 2.0 is the variant displayed on MLB.com.[1] According to James, the original version of game score correlates more closely with team winning percentage and ERA than Tango's version.[7]

Highest achieved scores

[edit]
Kerry Wood

The highest game score for a nine-inning game in the major leagues is 105, achieved by Kerry Wood for the Chicago Cubs against the Houston Astros on May 6, 1998, in just his fifth major league start. Wood's performance included 20 strikeouts, zero walks, a hit batter and just one hit.

The second highest nine-inning game score is 104, which occurred on October 3, 2015, when Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals allowed no hits and no walks, striking out 17, against the New York Mets. This is also the highest game score ever for a major league no-hitter.

The 100th game score of 100 points or higher was pitched by Matt Cain for his perfect game on June 13, 2012. Of the 100 such games, only ten of them were a regulation nine innings.

The two highest game scores ever recorded both occurred in the same game: the famous 26-inning duel from 1920 in which Joe Oeschger scored 153 and Leon Cadore scored 140. Oeschger had earlier scored a 102 in a 14-inning game in 1917 against Jeff Pfeffer, who scored 114. Each game ended in a tie after being called due to darkness.

In all, there have been nine games in which both starting pitchers scored 100 points; all required extra innings and none has occurred since 1971. Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn scored 112 and 97, respectively, during a complete game 16-inning match up on July 2, 1963;[8] Spahn's score fell below 100 because of Willie Mays' game-winning home run in the bottom of the 16th.[9]

Twenty-one pitchers with 100 or more game score points did so in losing games, including Harvey Haddix, who scored a 107 in the game in which he took a perfect game into the 13th inning. The highest-ever losing game score was 118, from Art Nehf, who outlasted the opposing starter by six innings but lost in the 21st inning. Seventeen of the 100+ game scores came in suspended tie games. Only seven of the 100 highest game scores were no-hitters.

Walter Johnson and Nolan Ryan had the most 100-point game scores with four apiece. Johnson had two in 1918, one in 1919, and a fourth in 1926; Ryan's came in 1972, 1973, 1990 and 1991. Warren Spahn had three 100-point game scores, in 1948, 1952 and 1960. Juan Marichal had three 100-point game scores, in 1963, 1966 and 1969. Eight pitchers had two 100-point game scores: Art Nehf (1917 and 1918), Joe Oeschger (1917 and 1920), Burleigh Grimes (1918 and 1920), Eric Erickson (1918 and 1921), Herb Pennock (1923 and 1925), Jim Maloney (1964 and 1965), Frank Tanana (1975 and 1976), and Max Scherzer (both 2015).[10]

Corey Kluber's game score of 98 in an eight-inning, no-run, one-hit, no-walk, 18-strikeout performance against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 13, 2015, is the highest by any pitcher in MLB history in a non-complete game. Indians bench coach Brad Mills removed him after the eighth inning, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth inning to seal a 2–0 win.[11] The previous holder of the record was Matt Harvey, who achieved a game score of 97 for a nine-inning non-complete game against the Chicago White Sox on May 7, 2013. (Harvey's New York Mets won in ten innings.)[12][13]

On June 18, 2014, Clayton Kershaw posted the second highest ever game score for a nine-inning, no-hit effort. Kershaw struck out 15 while walking none, and the only baserunner was the result of a throwing error. His game score of 102 is the third-highest for a nine-inning game in MLB history (50 + 27 + 10 + 15).[14]

The lowest game score in baseball's modern era was Allan Travers' 26-hit, 24-run start for the Detroit Tigers on May 18, 1912. His game score was a −52. This performance only came about because the regular Tiger players staged a strike in protest of Ty Cobb's suspension. To avoid a forfeit, local college players (including Travers) were enlisted as impromptu fill-ins. The lowest game score since 1957 was Oakland pitcher Mike Oquist's, who allowed 16 hits and 14 earned runs in five innings on August 3, 1998, for a −21.

In terms of high scores, the system favors current pitchers in some ways. It is difficult to achieve a very high score in a game without amassing a substantial number of strikeouts. In earlier eras, even for the very best pitchers, strikeouts were less plentiful. For instance, Cy Young's two no-hitters earned scores of just 90 and 88 due to their low strikeout totals (three and two, respectively). However, most of the all-time high game scores occurred in baseball's earlier era, when starting pitchers were permitted to remain in games longer than today; four of the top six all-time game scores were accomplished in stints of 21 innings or more.

The highest game score in a nine-inning game in Nippon Professional Baseball history is 106, which Rōki Sasaki achieved on April 10, 2022 by pitching a perfect game with a league record-tying 19 strikeouts. This game score is higher than any achieved in a nine-inning game in MLB history.[15]

Game scores of 100 in a 9-inning MLB game

[edit]

Sixteen times in Major League Baseball history, a pitcher has achieved a game score of 100 or higher in a 9-inning game, as detailed here.[16]

Pitcher Team Opposing team Date Game result Game score Line Notes
H BB K
Nap Rucker Brooklyn Superbas Boston Doves September 5, 1908 W 6-0 101 0 0 14 No-hitter
Warren Spahn Milwaukee Braves Philadelphia Phillies September 16, 1960 W 4–0 100 0 2 15 No-hitter
Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago Cubs September 9, 1965 W 1–0 101 0 0 14 Perfect game
See also: Sandy Koufax's perfect game
Nolan Ryan California Angels Boston Red Sox July 9, 1972 W 3–0 100 1 2 17
Detroit Tigers July 15, 1973 W 6–0 100 0 4 17 No-hitter
Texas Rangers Toronto Blue Jays May 1, 1991 W 3–0 101 0 2 16 No-hitter; Ryan's seventh and final no-hitter, a Major League Baseball record.
Kerry Wood Chicago Cubs Houston Astros May 6, 1998 W 2–0 105 1 0 20 Highest Game Score in a 9-inning game. Tied for the Major League Baseball record for most strikeouts in a 9-inning game.
Curt Schilling Arizona Diamondbacks Milwaukee Brewers April 7, 2002 W 2–0 100 1 2 17
Randy Johnson Atlanta Braves May 18, 2004 W 2–0 100 0 0 13 Perfect game
See also: Randy Johnson's perfect game
Brandon Morrow Toronto Blue Jays Tampa Bay Rays August 8, 2010 W 1–0 100 1 2 17
Matt Cain San Francisco Giants Houston Astros June 13, 2012 W 10–0 101 0 0 14 Perfect game
See also: Matt Cain's perfect game
Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers Colorado Rockies June 18, 2014 W 8–0 102 0 0 15 No-hitter; Only batter to reach base was on a fielding error.
Max Scherzer Washington Nationals Milwaukee Brewers June 14, 2015 W 4–0 100 1 1 16
New York Mets October 3, 2015 W 2–0 104 0 0 17 No-hitter; highest game score achieved in a no-hitter. Only batter to reach base was on a throwing error in 6th inning. First occurrence of two 100-score games in a season by a pitcher.
Gerrit Cole Houston Astros Arizona Diamondbacks May 4, 2018 W 8–0 100 1 1 16 Cole's first career shutout
Justin Verlander Houston Astros Toronto Blue Jays September 1, 2019 W 2–0 100 0 1 14 No-hitter

Career totals for some pitchers

[edit]

The total number of game scores listed for each pitcher are starts in which he reached 90 points or higher. The parenthetical totals represent the highest score in the pitcher's career, and the number of game scores equal to or greater than 100 (if any). This is not a complete list and includes only pitchers with five or more games of 90 or higher (through 2/22/2024).[16]

Theoretical maximum scores

[edit]

The maximum possible game score in a nine-inning game while allowing no baserunners is 114, possible only if a pitcher goes nine innings while striking out every batter he faces and facing three batters per inning. The pitcher receives 50 to begin with, and loses no points because there are no hits, walks, or runs of any kind. He receives 27 points for the 27 outs, and 10 points for five innings completed after the fourth inning, for a total of 87. In this "perfect score" scenario, the pitcher would have to strike out every hitter he faced, netting him an additional 27 points, for a grand total of 114.

The absolute maximum possible score requires the extremely unlikely scenario in which three base runners reach base each inning on wild pitches or passed balls on dropped third strikes. If this were to happen such that no one scored, and the pitcher recorded all outs by strikeout, a pitcher could theoretically record six strikeouts per inning, and thus 54 for the game, netting him 54 points in addition to the 87 he would have received as described above, for a total of 141 in a 9 inning game. Six strikeouts in an inning is not a theoretical maximum, but beyond six batters, runs would inevitably start scoring, hurting the game score more than any additional strikeouts could help. Given that a pitcher could theoretically pitch every inning of a 0-0 game, and game could theoretically extend indefinitely at that 0-0 score, there is no true limit to potential game score.

The fantastic improbability of this can be illustrated by the fact that there has never, in the entire 150+-year history of major league baseball, been one single instance of a six-strikeout inning -- or even a five-strikeout inning. A four-strikeout inning occurs rarely, and has happened on just under 100 occasions.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Game score

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Game Score is a baseball statistic created by sabermetrician to evaluate a starting pitcher's performance in a single game. Introduced in his 1988 Baseball Abstract, it provides a numerical summary—typically ranging from 40 to 70 for average starts, with scores above 80 indicating exceptional outings—based on basic pitching lines like , strikeouts, hits, runs, and walks. The metric aims to capture overall effectiveness beyond wins or , though it does not adjust for ballpark factors or opponent quality. James developed Game Score as a simple "garbage stat" to quickly compare pitching starts across . The original formula is:
Start with 50 points.
Add 1 point for each out recorded (or 3 points per complete inning).
Add 2 points for each inning completed after the fourth.
Add 1 point for each .
Subtract 2 points for each hit allowed.
Subtract 4 points for each earned run allowed.
Subtract 2 points for each unearned run allowed.
Subtract 1 point for each walk or . This weights longevity and dominance while penalizing mistakes, resulting in scores from 0 upward, with rare perfect games or no-hitters often exceeding 90. An updated version by Tom Tango in 2014 incorporates penalties and adjusts the baseline to better reflect modern . Widely used in analysis, Game Score is tracked by sites like Baseball-Reference.com, which list historical highs such as Kerry Wood's 105 on May 6, 1998—the highest in a nine-inning game. It facilitates cross-era comparisons of pitching feats but has limitations, such as underpenalizing home runs in the original formula, making it a supplementary tool alongside metrics like ERA+ or FIP.

Overview

Definition

Game Score (often abbreviated as GmSc) is a basketball statistic developed by analyst John Hollinger to measure an individual player's productivity and overall contribution in a single game, primarily using basic box score data from the National Basketball Association (NBA). It serves as a simplified, linear extension of Hollinger's more complex Player Efficiency Rating (PER), providing a quick numerical summary without adjustments for team pace or minutes played. The metric weights positive actions like points, field goals, rebounds, steals, assists, and blocks while penalizing inefficiencies such as missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. Scores generally range from around 0 for poor performances to over 40 for exceptional ones, with a typical outing averaging approximately 10 points.

Purpose and Interpretation

Game Score was introduced by John Hollinger in the early 2000s as part of his pioneering work in , aiming to capture a player's impact through a straightforward, at-a-glance of their box-score line. Its purpose is to synthesize key performance elements into a single number, facilitating rapid assessment of individual contributions without requiring deeper contextual analysis. In interpretation, scores below 5 typically indicate subpar outings, while 10 represents an average performance; values of 15 or higher signify strong games, 20 or above denote excellent dominance, and 30 or more mark historic efforts. Higher scores generally reflect greater productivity and correlate with positive team outcomes, though not causally, as they depend on factors like offensive support. Despite its accessibility, Game Score has limitations, including no adjustments for playing time, game pace, opponent strength, or advanced defensive impacts, positioning it as a descriptive rather than predictive tool compared to metrics like PER or Real Plus-Minus. As of 2025, it remains widely used in fan discussions, media recaps, and statistical databases for highlighting standout player performances.

Calculation

Original Formula

The original game score formula provides a numerical summary of a starting pitcher's performance by starting from a baseline and applying incremental adjustments for positive and negative outcomes. Introduced by in his 1988 Baseball Abstract, it aims to quantify effectiveness in a single metric scaled roughly from 0 to 100, with 50 representing an average outing. The computation follows these steps:
  • Begin with a base score of 50 points.
  • Add 1 point for each out recorded by the .
  • Add 2 points for each full completed after the fourth.
  • Add 1 point for each .
  • Subtract 2 points for each hit allowed.
  • Subtract 4 points for each earned run allowed.
  • Subtract 2 points for each unearned run allowed.
  • Subtract 1 point for each walk issued.
This process can be expressed in a compact mathematical form as: Game Score=50+O+K−2H−4ER−2UR−BB\text{Game Score} = 50 + O + K - 2H - 4\text{ER} - 2\text{UR} - \text{BB} where OO is the total outs pitched, KK is strikeouts, HH is hits, ER is earned runs, UR is unearned runs, and BB is walks. The post-fourth-inning bonus must be applied separately in step-by-step calculation, adding 2 points per full inning beyond the fourth. The baseline of 50 assumes a mediocre performance, with additions rewarding innings pitched and dominance via strikeouts, while subtractions heavily penalize runs (especially earned ones) and baserunners created via hits or walks. Events such as wild pitches, balks, and hit batters receive no direct penalties in the formula; their effects are accounted for only indirectly if they contribute to unearned runs or additional baserunners leading to hits or walks.

Components and Adjustments

The Game Score formula begins with a baseline of 50 points, providing a neutral starting point calibrated to reflect an average performance around that value. This base allows the metric to scale positive and negative contributions symmetrically, typically resulting in scores between 40 and 70 for most starts, with exceptional outings exceeding 80. Positive components emphasize a pitcher's to record outs and demonstrate dominance. Each out recorded contributes 1 point, equating to 3 points per complete , which rewards and control in the game. Additionally, 2 points are added for each full completed after the fourth, incentivizing pitchers to go deeper into contests beyond the typical early workload; this adjustment acknowledges the increasing value of sustained performance as games progress, and applies only to completed innings (partial innings do not qualify). Strikeouts receive 1 point each, highlighting swing-and-miss as a marker of overpowering hitters, though the modest weighting reflects that outs via any means contribute to success. Together, these elements weight endurance and strikeout-heavy dominance positively—for instance, a scoreless with three strikeouts and no baserunners yields +3 points for outs and +3 for strikeouts, totaling +6 points—while the post-fourth-inning bonus further boosts scores for complete games or deep outings. Game Score is typically applied to starting pitchers. Negative components penalize events that allow baserunners and scoring, underscoring the importance of preventing opportunities for the offense. Hits deduct 2 points each, and walks deduct 1 point each, creating a heavier penalty for solid contact over free passes and emphasizing the control needed to limit traffic on the bases. Runs allowed are penalized more severely: 4 points per earned run and 2 points per unearned run, differentiating the pitcher's direct responsibility from defensive miscues while still docking for overall game impact. There is no direct penalty for errors committed by fielders, as these are indirectly addressed through the lighter unearned run deduction, avoiding over-punishment of the pitcher for team-wide failures. Hit by pitches are not factored into the original , treating them as unpenalized events akin to unavoidable contact without the deduction applied to walks. This structure prioritizes conceptual dominance by rewarding efficient outs and strikeouts while heavily weighting the prevention of baserunners and runs, ensuring the score captures both volume and quality of performance.

History and Variants

Introduction by Bill James

, a pioneering sabermetrician, first introduced the game score metric in the 1988 edition of his annual Baseball Abstract. He presented it as a simple, composite statistic intended to provide a quick summary of a starting pitcher's performance in a single game, emphasizing its role as an entertaining rather than rigorously analytical tool. James explicitly downplayed its seriousness, calling it "a kind of garbage stat that I present not because it helps us understand anything in particular but because it is fun to play around with." James's philosophy behind game score reflected his broader approach to baseball statistics during the , favoring accessible, intuitive measures that could be grasped at a glance over more intricate metrics like (ERA) or walks plus hits per inning pitched (). He designed it to capture the essence of a pitcher's outing through a single numerical value, allowing casual fans and analysts alike to evaluate starts without delving into minutiae. This lighthearted intent aligned with James's self-published roots in , where he often experimented with fun, experimental stats to engage readers beyond traditional evaluations. Upon its debut, game score quickly gained popularity among fans for its straightforward appeal and ease of use in comparing individual performances. However, some analysts critiqued it for its simplicity, arguing that the metric's arbitrary weighting overlooked nuances in defensive support, effects, and opponent quality. James himself made no significant revisions to the original framework in subsequent works, maintaining its status as an unchanged, whimsical contribution to evaluation.

Alternative Versions

In 2003, Dayn Perry introduced Game Score 2.0 in a Prospectus article, aiming to better reflect defense-independent aspects of pitching performance by emphasizing controllable outcomes like and unintentional walks while penalizing more heavily. The formula begins with a base of 50 points, adds 1 point per batter retired, adds 2 points per completed after the fifth, adds 2 points per , subtracts 3 points per hit allowed, subtracts 5 points per non-home run run allowed, subtracts 4 points per unintentional walk, and subtracts 7 points per allowed; intentional walks are excluded from the walk penalty to avoid unfairly docking pitchers for strategic decisions. In 2014, statistician Tom Tango developed another revision, also termed Game Score Version 2.0, to align more closely with contemporary dynamics, including increased emphasis on prevention and walk rates. This version starts at a baseline of 40 points (lowered from 50 to better represent replacement-level outings), awards 2 points per out recorded, adds 1 point per , subtracts 2 points per walk or hit allowed (doubling the original walk penalty to match hits), subtracts 3 points per run allowed regardless of earned status, and imposes an additional 6-point penalty per to account for their outsized impact. Comparisons between versions highlight trade-offs in applicability: the original formula maintains stronger correlations with historical team winning percentages and ERAs due to its simpler structure suited to pre-2000s data, while Tango's iteration shows improved for modern win probabilities and ERA outcomes by incorporating era-specific weights like enhanced penalties. Tango's version has seen widespread adoption, powering the game score metric on MLB.com and pitcher game logs (as GSv2), whereas Perry's 2.0 and the original remain referenced in sabermetric analyses for contextual comparisons across eras.

Notable Performances

All-Time Highest Scores

The all-time highest game score in history is 153, achieved by pitcher Joe Oeschger on May 1, 1920, in a 26-inning tie against the Robins, where he allowed 9 hits, 1 unearned run, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts while pitching the entire contest. This extraordinary performance, though ending without a decision, exemplifies how extended games can dramatically elevate game scores due to the heavy weighting of in the formula. In the same game, Brooklyn's Leon Cadore recorded the second-highest score of 140, surrendering 7 hits, 1 unearned run, 3 walks, and no strikeouts over the full 26 innings. Among standard 9-inning games, the record stands at 105, set by Chicago Cubs pitcher on May 6, 1998, against the Houston Astros, with 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, and a major-league-record 20 strikeouts. This mark highlights the metric's emphasis on dominance through strikeouts and minimal baserunners, often aligned with shutouts or near-s. Washington Nationals pitcher posted the second-highest 9-inning score of 104 on October 3, 2015, against the , completing a with 0 runs, 0 walks, and 17 strikeouts. Other notable high scores include those from extra-inning shutout bids, such as St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jose DeLeon's 103 on August 30, 1989, against the (11 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts). In recent seasons, game scores remain impressive but have not surpassed these benchmarks, with St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray tying his career high of 96 on June 27, 2025, against the Cleveland Guardians (9 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 11 strikeouts). Similarly, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal achieved 96 on May 25, 2025, versus the Guardians (9 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 13 strikeouts). These outings underscore ongoing elite performances, often featuring efficient pitch counts under 100 in complete-game shutouts.
RankPitcherDateTeam vs. OpponentIPHRBBSOGame Score
1Joe Oeschger5/1/1920Braves vs. 269147153
2Leon Cadore5/1/1920 vs. Braves267130140
36/6/1964Angels vs. Yankees1430212116
49/3/1966Phillies vs. Mets1590318114
55/6/1998Cubs vs. Astros910020105
610/3/2015Nationals vs. Mets900017104
7Jose DeLeon8/30/1989Cardinals vs. Reds111008103
89/9/1965Dodgers vs. Cubs900014101
95/1/1991Rangers vs. 900216101
105/18/2004Diamondbacks vs. Braves900013100

9-Inning Games Reaching 100

In history, starting pitchers have achieved a game score of 100 or higher in exactly 16 nine-inning regular-season games through the 2025 season. These rare performances highlight exceptional dominance, typically involving complete-game shutouts with minimal baserunners, often in the form of no-hitters or one-hitters. All 16 instances resulted in zero runs allowed, underscoring the threshold's association with scoreless outings; no nine-inning game reaching 100 has allowed any runs. Eleven of the games were no-hitters, while the other five permitted exactly one hit. No such performances occurred in the 2024 or 2025 seasons. The following table details each instance, ordered by descending game score. Key statistics include innings pitched (all 9.0), hits allowed (H), earned runs (ER, all 0), walks (BB), and strikeouts (SO).
RankPitcherDateTeamOpponentResultHBBSOGame ScoreNotes
1Kerry Wood1998-05-06CHCHOUW 2-01020105One-hitter
2Max Scherzer2015-10-03WSNNYMW 2-00017104No-hitter
3Clayton Kershaw2014-06-18LADCOLW 8-00015102No-hitter
4Matt Cain2012-06-13SFGHOUW 10-00014101No-hitter
5Nolan Ryan1991-05-01TEXTORW 3-00216101No-hitter
6Sandy Koufax1965-09-09LADCHCW 1-00014101No-hitter
7Nap Rucker1908-09-05BROBSNW 6-00014101No-hitter
8Justin Verlander2019-09-01HOUTORW 2-00114100No-hitter
9Gerrit Cole2018-05-04HOUARIW 8-01116100One-hitter
10Max Scherzer2015-06-14WSNMILW 4-01116100One-hitter
11Brandon Morrow2010-08-08TORTBRW 1-01217100One-hitter
12Randy Johnson2004-05-18ARIATLW 2-00013100No-hitter
13Curt Schilling2002-04-07ARIMILW 2-01217100One-hitter
14Nolan Ryan1973-07-15CALDETW 6-00417100No-hitter
15Nolan Ryan1972-07-09CALBOSW 3-01116100One-hitter
16Warren Spahn1960-09-16MLNPHIW 4-00215100No-hitter
Nolan Ryan and Max Scherzer are the only pitchers to accomplish this feat more than once, with Ryan achieving it three times and Scherzer twice. These outings often occurred in low-scoring affairs, emphasizing control and prowess alongside the prevention of hits.

Career Totals for Key Pitchers

Among pitchers who achieved at least five starts with a game score of 90 or higher, leads with 20 such outings during his career from 1907 to 1927. recorded 15, spanning his 27-season tenure from 1966 to 1993. Pedro Martinez amassed 10, primarily during his peak years with the Boston Red Sox in the late 1990s and early 2000s. For even rarer feats, game scores of 100 or higher represent extraordinary dominance. Both and tallied four such performances each, while other notable pitchers like have achieved it once (in 2019). These career accumulations highlight the interplay of longevity, skill, and era-specific conditions in achieving high game scores. Dead-ball era pitchers like Johnson often posted higher totals due to lower offensive outputs and fewer earned runs, contrasting with modern hurlers facing elevated run environments despite advanced and training.
RankPitcherNumber of 90+ StartsCareer Span
1201907–1927
2151966–1993
3141890–1911
4131900–1916
5Grover Alexander121911–1930
6111925–1941
7Pedro Martinez101992–2009
891984–2007
981988–2009
1071942–1965
Data through 2025 season; updated totals may vary with ongoing analysis.

Theoretical Limits

Maximum in 9-Inning Games

The theoretical maximum Game Score in a standard 9-inning game is 114, achieved in a hypothetical scenario where a records a perfect game—all 27 outs via strikeouts, with no hits, runs, walks, or hit batters allowed. This upper limit arises from the original formula devised by , which rewards , strikeouts, and late-game endurance while penalizing baserunners and runs. To derive this maximum, begin with the baseline of 50 points. Add 1 point for each of the 27 outs recorded, yielding +27. Include a bonus of 2 points for each of the completed after the fourth (innings 5 through 9), adding +10. Finally, add 1 point for each of the 27 strikeouts, contributing +27. With zero deductions for hits (-2 each), earned runs (-4 each), unearned runs (-2 each), walks (-1 each), or hit batters (-1 each), the total is 50 + 27 + 10 + 27 = 114. In practice, attaining 114 is impossible due to the extreme unlikelihood of striking out every batter faced without issuing a single walk or allowing a ball in play to become a hit; no pitcher has ever recorded 27 strikeouts in a 9-inning perfect game. The closest historical approximation remains Kerry Wood's 105 on May 6, 1998, featuring 20 strikeouts, one hit, and no walks or runs over 9 , illustrating how even near-perfect outings fall short of the theoretical ceiling. This maximum underscores the formula's design to incentivize dominance through strikeouts and completeness, though real-game constraints like batter patience and defensive variability impose natural limits.

Maximum in Extended Games

In extended games surpassing the standard nine , the game score lacks a strict theoretical upper bound, as additional outs recorded contribute positively to the metric without a predefined cap, allowing scores to escalate with prolonged pitching outings. This potential for unbounded growth stems directly from the formula's structure, which awards one point per out pitched alongside bonuses for completed beyond the fourth, further amplifying scores in marathon contests. For instance, in the 1920 tie between the and Brooklyn Robins that extended to 26 , Boston pitcher Joe Oeschger recorded a game score of 153 after pitching the full distance, allowing just nine hits, one earned run, four walks, and seven strikeouts—a mark that remains the highest verified in history. To illustrate the theoretical ceiling in a hypothetical scenario, consider an 18-inning perfect game where the records all 54 outs via with no baserunners allowed. Under a simplified application of the game score components—starting at 50 points, plus one point per out, plus two points for each of the 14 innings completed after the fourth (+28), plus one point per —this yields 50 + 54 (outs) + 28 (inning bonuses) + 54 () = 186, exceeding typical nine-inning maxima like Kerry Wood's record 105 in 1998. In practice, however, such extremes are unattainable due to physiological limits on endurance and modern baseball's emphasis on pitch counts and management, which curtail starters' exposure in . While extended games inflate game scores through sheer volume of outs and potential strikeouts, these occurrences have become exceedingly rare in the contemporary era, constrained by fatigue risks, union-mandated rest rules, and strategic shifts toward specialized pitching. Unlike the fixed-duration limits explored for standard nine-inning contests, where scores plateau around 100-105 for near-perfect outings, prolonged games theoretically permit higher peaks but seldom materialize beyond historical anomalies like Oeschger's effort.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/glossary/advanced-stats/game-score
  2. https://library.fangraphs.com/pitching/game-score/
  3. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/23991/overthinking-it-does-bill-james-game-score-still-work/
  4. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/GS_career.shtml
  5. https://www.nbastuffer.com/analytics101/game-score/
  6. https://squared2020.com/2017/09/20/game-score-focus-on-scoring/
  7. https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/game_score.html
  8. https://sabr.org/journal/article/does-game-score-still-work-in-todays-high-offense-game/
  9. https://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/61672/mlb-stat-definition-bill-james-game-score
  10. https://sabr.org/journal/article/game-score-vs-starter-score/
  11. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/game-score-v2-0/
  12. https://sabr.org/latest/lindbergh-does-bill-james-game-score-still-work/
  13. https://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/9875.html
  14. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/2319/can-of-corn-game-scores-v2-0/
  15. https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2014/5/22/5737916/game-score-pitcher-evaluation-bill-james-tom-tango
  16. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23861547/the-best-pitching-performance-ever-all-30-teams
  17. https://www.mlb.com/news/kerry-wood-astros-recall-20-strikeout-game-c274851112
  18. https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/63496/max-scherzer-just-pitched-one-of-the-greatest-games-of-all-time
  19. https://fox2now.com/sports/st-louis-cardinals/sonny-gray-by-game-score-just-threw-one-of-the-best-cardinals-shutouts-ever/
  20. https://thescore.com/mlb/news/3291238
  21. https://stathead.com/sharing/wuXpe
  22. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnswa01.shtml
  23. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ryanno01.shtml
  24. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martipe02.shtml
  25. https://www.baseball-reference.com
  26. https://www.baseball-reference.com/glossary/game-score/
  27. https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN192005010.shtml
  28. https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-1-1920-an-extreme-exercise-in-futility-braves-dodgers-play-26-innings-to-no-decision
  29. https://www.mlb.com/news/best-extra-inning-performances-in-baseball-history
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