The WHIP statistic is a commonly used measure of a pitcher’s effectiveness in baseball. It stands for Walks plus Hits per Innings Pitched and is a ratio calculated by dividing the total number of walks and hits allowed by the number of innings pitched. A lower WHIP indicates a better ability to prevent batters from reaching base. In Major League Baseball (MLB) today, the pitcher with the highest WHIP is Dallas Keuchel of the Chicago White Sox.
What is WHIP?
WHIP is a key statistic used to measure a pitcher’s effectiveness and is calculated by dividing the total number of walks and hits allowed by the number of innings pitched. In other words, it is a ratio that measures how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning. A lower WHIP indicates a better ability to prevent batters from reaching base.
How WHIP is Calculated
WHIP is calculated by taking the total number of walks and hits allowed by a pitcher and dividing it by the number of innings pitched. For example, if a pitcher has allowed 10 hits and 4 walks in 8 innings, their WHIP would be calculated as follows: 10 + 4 = 14, 14 / 8 = 1.75. This means that the pitcher has allowed an average of 1.75 baserunners per inning.
Which Pitcher Currently Has the Highest WHIP in MLB?
As of October 2020, the pitcher with the highest WHIP in MLB is Dallas Keuchel of the Chicago White Sox. Keuchel has a WHIP of 1.81, which is significantly higher than the average MLB pitcher’s WHIP of 1.25.
Why is Dallas Keuchel’s WHIP so High?
Keuchel’s WHIP is high because he has allowed an unusually high number of baserunners this season. In 2020, he has allowed 8.7 hits per nine innings, which is much higher than the MLB average of 7.2. He has also allowed 4.1 walks per nine innings, which is much higher than the MLB average of 3.1.
How Does Keuchel Compare to Other High WHIP Pitchers?
Keuchel’s WHIP of 1.81 is higher than any other pitcher in MLB this season. The next highest WHIP belongs to Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ross Stripling, who has a WHIP of 1.76. Other high WHIP pitchers include Los Angeles Angels pitcher Dylan Bundy (1.72), Detroit Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd (1.72), and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes (1.68).
Conclusion
Dallas Keuchel of the Chicago White Sox currently has the highest WHIP in MLB, with a WHIP of 1.81. This is due to his unusually high number of baserunners allowed, with 8.7 hits per nine innings and 4.1 walks per nine innings. Although Keuchel’s WHIP is significantly higher than the MLB average of 1.25, it is still lower than the WHIP of other high WHIP pitchers such as Ross Stripling, Dylan Bundy, Matthew Boyd, and Corbin Burnes.