earned run average

[urnd ruhn av-er-ij, av-rij]

noun

Baseball.

1. a measure of the effectiveness of a pitcher, calculated by dividing the number of earned runs scored against the pitcher by the number of innings pitched and multiplying the result by nine: ERA

   His earned run average is currently a worrisome 6.21, as he has pitched 42 innings and given up 29 earned runs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of earned run average¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

He led the league in earned run average four years running.

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That couldn’t have worked any better: Lugo and Wacha each finished among the top 10 in earned run average in the American League, and the duo combined to pitch 373 innings.

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And, as evidenced by their 22nd-ranked team earned run average, it has led to a slew of cascading side effects.

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But on the mound, an uncharacteristically shaky Dodgers pitching staff — which ranks 22nd in earned run average so far this season — stumbled once again.

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In 2022, he led the Korea Baseball Organization, the country’s top league, in earned run average and strikeouts.

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