ERA
Earned Run Average -- the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings pitched.
Like a restaurant's average review score -- useful at a glance, but does not tell you about the chef vs. the waitstaff.
Why it matters
ERA is the most widely cited pitching stat. It sets the baseline for evaluating pitcher quality and run expectation.
How DMP uses this
DMP uses ERA context to frame game totals and evaluate pitcher matchups that affect player prop environments.
Common mistake
Treating ERA as the definitive pitching metric -- it is heavily influenced by defense and luck on batted balls.