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. [1] In the modern era, [2] Nolan Ryan has the most games started in a career with 773. [3] 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. [4]
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.
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