There’s a lot of abbreviations in sports statistics. Here’s a cheat-sheet for the baseball-related ones used on this site.
Batting
BA – Batting average (also abbreviated AVG): hits divided by plate appearances (H/PA)
OBP – On-base Percentage: how frequently a batter reaches base per plate appearance. Times on base includes hits, walks and hit-by-pitches, but does not include errors, times reached on a fielder’s choice or a dropped third strike.
AB – Plate appearance: number of completed batting appearances (also abbreviated PA).
BB – Times a batter received Base on balls (also called a “walk”): hitter not swinging at four pitches called out of the strike zone and awarded first base.
HPB – Time a batter was hit by pitch and awarded first base.
HR – Home runs: hits on which the batter successfully touched all four bases, without the contribution of a fielding error
TB – Total bases accumulated. A home run is worth 4 bases, a triple is worth 3 bases, a double is worth 2 bases, a single is worth 1 base.
2B – Double. A hit for two bases.
3B – Triple. A hit for three bases.
K – Strike out (also abbreviated SO). Hitter getting 3 strikes.
CS – Caught stealing. A base runner being thrown out while the ball is in the possession of the defense.
SB – Stolen base. Number of bases advanced by the runner while the ball is in the possession of the defense.
SLG – Slugging percentage: total bases achieved on hits divided by plate appearances (TB/PA)
RPG – Runs scored per game (R/G)
Pitching
IP – Innings pitched: the number of outs a team gets while a pitcher is pitching divided by 3.
H – Hits allowed.
ER – Number of earned runs (number of runs that did not occur as a result of errors or passed balls).
BB – Walks allowed.
K – Strike outs
BF – Number of total batters faced.
SV – Save: number of games where the pitcher enters a game led by the pitcher’s team, finishes the game without surrendering the lead, is not the winning pitcher, and either (a) the lead was three runs or fewer when the pitcher entered the game; (b) the potential tying run was on base, at bat, or on deck; or (c) the pitcher pitched three or more innings
ERA – Earned run average: total number of earned runs (ER * 9 / IP)
WHIP – Walks and hits per inning pitched: average number of walks and hits allowed by the pitcher per inning.
FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching: similar to ERA, but removes results on balls hit into the field of play.
Fielding
PO – Put out. When a fielder physically records the act of completing an out.
A – Assist. When a fielder touches the ball before a putout is recorded by another fielder.
TC – Total Chances. The number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. (PO + E)
E – Errors. A fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to advance one or more bases, or allows an at bat to continue after the batter should have been put out.
DP – Double Play. Occurs when two offensive players are ruled out within the same play.
FP – Fielding Percentage. The percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball. ((PO + A) / TC)
Some additional betting related terms:
Spread – The point spread is the pre-game estimated margin of victory for a team. A plus sign in front of the number indicates an underdog. A minus sign indicates a favorite.
ATS Record – Against the Spread. The record of a team that covers the pre-game betting spread. For example, if a team is -1.5, they need to win by 2 points to cover.
O/U Record – Number of times a team scores more (over) or less (under) the pre-game betting estimated total scores of a game.
Vig – Also knows as Juice. A second set of odds that serves as the price of placing the bet. For example, a vig of -110 means a bettor would have to wager $110 to win $100.