Average Pitching Strike to Ball Ratio

Average MLB pitchers throw 62% strikes, and better pitchers throw strikes 65% of the time, or roughly 2:1 strikes to balls.

According to FanGraphs.com there were 717,053 pitches thrown in MLB during 2009, 269,484 (38%) were called balls, and 447,569 (62%) were called strikes.

The top Strike to-Ball Percentage was 69% thrown by 7 pitchers, 68% by 10 pitchers.

500 pitchers (of the 666 total MLB pitchers) threw strikes at least 60% of the time. 660 pitchers threw at least 48% strikes.

Select relievers (below) threw 4,434 strikes (65%) out of 6,787 total pitches.

Select starters (below) threw 22,179 strikes (65%) out of 34,296 total pitches.

Selected MLB Pitchers - Strikes Pitched 2009

Pitcher	(S)tarter (R)eliever	ERA	Strikes %
Jonathan Broxton	R	2.61	66%
Mariano Rivera	R	1.76	67%
Joe Nathan	R	2.10	64%
Trevor Hoffman	R	1.83	65%
Phil Hughes	R	1.40	65%
Jonathan Pabelbon	R	1.85	65%
Chris Carpenter	S	2.24	65%
Felix Hernandez	S	2.49	64%
Roy Halladay	S	2.79	69%
Adam Wainwright	S	2.63	64%
Josh Beckett	S	3.86	65%
Scott Feldman	S	3.79	61%
Tim Lincecum	S	2.48	64%
CC Sabathia	S	3.37	65%
Zack Greinke	S	2.16	63%
Justin Verlander	S	3.45	67%