IP

What does IP stand for in baseball?

Innings pitched

IP tracks how many innings a baseball pitcher has recorded on the mound. In baseball stats, each out a pitcher records is one-third of an inning pitched, so you'll see the IP stat move in thirds. It's a key number for gauging a pitcher's durability and effectiveness, whether they're a starting pitcher (SP) or a relief pitcher (RP).

For SPs, higher IP totals often signal the ability to stay in the game longer and handle the ebb and flow of a full contest. RPs, on the other hand, usually have lower IP totals, as they are often specialists brought in to manage tricky situations for just an inning or two. Managers rely on IP to evaluate their pitching staff's stamina and plan game strategy.

IP not only helps differentiate workhorses from specialists, but also provides valuable insight into a pitcher's workload, which is crucial for maintaining performance over the grueling baseball season. For example, more IP may mean that the pitcher's velocity and effectiveness may suffer due to fatigue.

Example

how did your fantasy team do this week?
my pitcher was on fire, he threw 8 IP and gave me a ton of points!
Redditor posting Ohtani's IP
Redditor posting Ohtani's IP

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Updated May 28, 2026

IP definition by Slang.net - The Slang Dictionary

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