{{Short description|Number of games that a baseball pitcher has started for his team}} In baseball statistics, '''games started''' (denoted by GS) indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he throws the first pitch to the first opposing batter. If a player is listed in the starting lineup as the team's pitcher, but is replaced before facing an opposing batter, the player is credited with a game pitched but not a game started; there have been instances in major league history in which a starting pitcher was removed before his first pitch due to an injury, perhaps suffered while batting or running the bases during the top half of the first inning.
The all-time leader for games started is Cy Young with 815 over a 22-year career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/pitching/pigstar1.shtml|title=Games Started All Time Leaders by Baseball Almanac|website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}</ref> In the modern era,<ref>{{cite web |title=Modern Era {{!}} Glossary |url=https://www.mlb.com/glossary/miscellaneous/modern-era |website=MLB.com |access-date=26 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Nolan Ryan has the most games started in a career with 773.<ref>{{cite web |title=Player Pitching Season & Career Stats Finder - Baseball |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/AqC1r |website=Stathead.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=26 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The players with the most starts in a single season are Pud Galvin and Will White, with 75 games started each. In the modern era, that record is held by Jack Chesbro, who had 51 starts in 1904.<ref>{{cite web |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Games Started |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/GS_season.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=26 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
For position players, ''games started'' is also used to denote the number of times their names appear in a team's starting lineup during the season.
The statistic is also used in other sports including football and basketball.
==See also== {{Portal|Baseball}} *List of Major League Baseball career games started leaders *List of Major League Baseball career games finished leaders *Complete game *Shutouts in baseball
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Games Started}} Category:Pitching statistics
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