Quality StartsQS

QS stands for quality starts in baseball. Starts in which the pitcher went at least six innings and allowed three earned runs or fewer.

How QS is calculated

QS: IP ≥ 6 and ER ≤ 3

The minimum quality start — six innings, three earned runs — is a 4.50 ERA, which is why critics call the bar low. In practice the average quality start is far better than that.

What counts as a good QS?

Half of the 179 qualified MLB players in 2026 were at or below 7. Clearing 16 put a season in the top tenth of the league.

Median: 7
Top 10%: 16
Leader: 21

By position, the median was 7 for SP and 2 for RP.

Qualified: 10+ GS, non-zero, 2026 regular season.