How this calculator works
WHIP measures how many runners a pitcher puts on base per inning. Hits and walks both count; hit batters, errors and runners left on base do not. Innings are counted in outs, so 180 innings is 540 outs. A pitcher who allows 160 hits and walks in 180 innings has a WHIP of 0.889, which is excellent. WHIP is a rate, not a forecast: a pitcher can allow many baserunners and still prevent runs with strikeouts and double plays, and a low WHIP with a high ERA often signals bad timing or poor defence.
Formula
WHIP = (walks + hits) / innings pitched, where innings pitched = outs recorded / 3. Rearranged: hits = WHIP x innings - walks; walks = WHIP x innings - hits; innings = (hits + walks) / WHIP.
Worked example
A pitcher allows 120 hits and 40 walks while recording 540 outs. That is 180 innings, so WHIP = 160 / 180 = 0.889. With 150 hits, 50 walks and 600 outs, WHIP = 200 / 200 = 1.000.
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Frequently asked questions
Do hit batters count in WHIP?
No. WHIP counts only hits and walks. A hit batter is a baserunner but is not part of the traditional WHIP calculation, which is one reason analytics sites also publish on-base percentage against.
Why enter outs instead of innings?
Baseball writes partial innings as .1 and .2, which look like decimals but are not. Entering outs removes the ambiguity: 6.2 innings is 20 outs, not 6.2 innings in decimal form.
What is a good WHIP?
Around 1.30 is roughly league average for a starting pitcher in recent seasons. Below 1.10 is strong and above 1.50 is poor, but the league average moves with the run environment.