What Does ‘Pitching Out’ Mean in Sports Betting?

The term “pitching out” can refer to two different things in sports betting. The most common is a popular prop bet called “Pitcher Outs,” while the other is a bet on the specific baseball play known as a “pitchout.”

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1. Pitcher Outs (The Common Bet)

This is the most likely meaning in a modern sportsbook. “Pitching Outs” (or “Pitcher Outs”) is a player prop bet where you wager on the total number of outs a specific pitcher will record before they are removed from the game.

It’s formatted as an Over/Under bet. Since there are three outs in an inning, the lines are set in multiples of three.

• 6 full innings = 18 outs
• 6.1 innings (6 full innings + 1 out in the 7th) = 19 outs
• 6.2 innings (6 full innings + 2 outs in the 7th) = 20 outs

How it Works

A sportsbook will set a line for a starting pitcher’s total outs.

Example:

• Gerrit Cole – Total Pitcher Outs
  • Over 17.5 (-120)
  • Under 17.5 (+100)
• If you bet the Over 17.5: You win if Gerrit Cole records 18 outs or more. This means he must finish the 6th inning.
• If you bet the Under 17.5: You win if Gerrit Cole is pulled from the game before recording 18 outs. If he finishes the 5th inning and is pulled after 17 outs, you win.

Any out recorded while that pitcher is officially in the game counts toward their total, including strikeouts, fly-outs, ground-outs, and even outs made on the basepaths (like a runner caught stealing).

2. Pitchout (The Rare Bet)

This is a bet on a very specific, rare defensive play in baseball called a “pitchout.”

What a Pitchout Is

A pitchout is a tactical play where the pitcher intentionally throws the ball high and wide outside the strike zone, completely out of the batter’s reach. The catcher stands up to catch it, ready to throw to a base.

The only purpose of a pitchout is to anticipate a stolen base attempt. It gives the catcher a clear and fast opportunity to throw the runner out.

How it Works in Betting

Because this play is so rare in modern, analytics-driven baseball, it’s offered as a “novelty prop bet” for a game.

The market is almost always a simple Yes/No question:

Example:

• “Will there be a pitchout in the game?”
  • Yes: +700
  • No: -1200
• Betting “Yes”: The odds are very high (e.g., +700) because it’s so unlikely to happen. A $10 bet would win $70.
• Betting “No”: This is the heavy favorite. The odds are very low (e.g., -1200), meaning you would have to risk $120 just to win $10.