When it comes to baseball betting, one of the overlooked variables tend to be the starting pitchers. Starting pitchers play a pivotal role in the game, as they can affect totals, money lines, and the overall outcome of each game. Fans new to MLB betting should consider the starting pitchers in each game before making a wager.

Since baseball first became a professional sport 100 years ago, experts have created a wide array of statistical categories for each position. For pitchers this includes ERA, WHIP, and win loss and teams records in games started. For the bettor who wagers specifically on a team to win or lose, teams records in games started is all you are concerned with. Essentially this stat, credits the starting pitcher with the win or loss no matter if they factor into the outcome. ERA and win loss records affect the pitcher individually and are therefore useless for bettors to rely on.

TRGS as we previously noted credits the pitcher with a win or a loss no matter if they factor into a decision. This takes away the concept of a no decision, in which, if the bullpen blows a lead and loses the game the bullpen takes the loss. We have found that TRGS is a more telling statistic when it comes to a team’s success.

For instance, in a game in late September of 2007 when the Chicago Cubs sent starting pitcher Steve Traschel to face the Florida Marlins and their starter Scott Olsen, it was discovered that the Marlins were the better team even though they were the underdog. Basically, Traschel had a win loss record of seven and 10, but an overall record of 10- 18 after combining his TRGS with his win loss record. In the games that Traschel would have got a no decision, he had a record of three wins and eight losses. Conversely, Scott Olsen had a win loss record of nine wins and 15 losses, yet a TRGS of seven wins and one loss for an overall record of 16 wins 16 losses. Therefore the TRGS made the Marlins the better team to wager on.