FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) measures a pitcher’s effectiveness by counting only what he fully controls: strikeouts, walks, hit-by-pitches and home runs. It leaves out what happens once the ball is put in play, because defense and luck come into play there.
How do you read it?
It’s calibrated on the same scale as earned run average (ERA), so it’s read the same way: a FIP of 3.00 is very good, one of 4.50 is weak.
| FIP | Level |
|---|---|
| Below 3.00 | Elite |
| 3.00 – 3.80 | Very good |
| 3.80 – 4.40 | Average |
| Above 4.70 | Below average |
Why it matters
When a pitcher’s ERA and his FIP are very different, it’s usually a sign of luck or of very good or very bad defense behind him. That’s why FIP sometimes predicts future performance better than ERA itself.
Examples
- A pitcher with a 4.50 ERA but a 3.40 FIP probably had bad luck or bad defense: he’s a candidate to improve.
[Live data — MLB API] Current-season FIP leaders: (filled in automatically).
Related stats
Frequently asked questions
Is it better than ERA?
It’s not «better,» it’s complementary: it isolates what the pitcher controls and tends to predict what’s coming better.
What FIP is good?
Below 3.80 is very good; under 3.00 is elite.
