STARTERS: Second half ERA-reduction drivers

It's easy to dismiss first half to second half improvement among SP. After all, the midpoint of the season is an arbitrary cutoff, and performance swings occur throughout the season.

That said, let's take a closer look at SP who experienced significant 1H-2H ERA improvement from 2010-2012.

Twenty-two percent (79) of starting pitchers over the past three seasons had a 1.00 ERA reduction from the first half to the second half (minimum 40 IP each half). Their average ERA improvement was 1.78 ER.

Here are the indicators that were most strongly correlated with ERA reduction for those SP.

Among those 79 SP with a 1.00 ERA 1H-2H reduction:

• 77 (97%) saw their WHIP decrease, with an average WHIP decrease of 0.26
• 77 (97%) saw their...

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