A complete game is when a starting pitcher pitches his team’s entire game without being relieved, however many innings it lasts. It was once routine, but with pitch counts, deep bullpens and the times through the order penalty, complete games have become rare, with only a few dozen thrown across all of MLB in a typical recent season.
Stat explained
Complete game at a glance
CG in the stat line
Definition
The only pitcher his team uses in a game
Length
Any lengthA rain shortened five inning game counts; so does a loss
Shutout
A complete game with no runs allowedA combined shutout is not a complete game
Losing pitcher
Can still throw oneThe road pitcher in a loss often goes only eight innings
Maddux
A complete game shutout on fewer than 100 pitchesSee what is a Maddux
No hitter link
A no hitter by one pitcher is also a complete game
Why they are rare
Pitch counts, bullpen depth, facing the lineup a third timeManagers pull starters earlier than ever
Why Starters Rarely Finish Anymore
| Reason | What changed |
|---|---|
| Times through the order | Hitters perform much better the third time they see a starter |
| Pitch counts | Most starters are capped near 100 pitches |
| Bullpen depth | Teams carry many hard throwing relievers |
| Injury risk | Teams protect expensive arms from heavy workloads |
Related Terms
A Maddux is the most efficient kind of complete game, and a no hitter or perfect game by one pitcher is always a complete game too.
Related
What is a Maddux · No hitter vs. perfect game · What is a save
Definitions from the MLB.com glossary.