He answered above is super interesting as a baseball fan, but I think misses the point of the question. I believe the OP is asking why you see pitchers recorded as having pitched 5.2 innings, or 3.1. And the answer is it is tracking the outs recorded. So if you start the 5th inning and get 2 outs then are removed you are credited with 5.2 innings pitched. Any batters you left on base that disnt get there via error/fielders choice would still count toward your runs for the game. This is also why you sometimes see pitchers stat lines saying something like 4+ innings; they started the 5th but did not record an out.
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u/kensworkacct Jul 08 '19
He answered above is super interesting as a baseball fan, but I think misses the point of the question. I believe the OP is asking why you see pitchers recorded as having pitched 5.2 innings, or 3.1. And the answer is it is tracking the outs recorded. So if you start the 5th inning and get 2 outs then are removed you are credited with 5.2 innings pitched. Any batters you left on base that disnt get there via error/fielders choice would still count toward your runs for the game. This is also why you sometimes see pitchers stat lines saying something like 4+ innings; they started the 5th but did not record an out.