What Is a Good ERA in Baseball?
The 2025 MLB earned-run average was 4.15 (4.21 so far in 2026). A sub-3.50 ERA is good, sub-2.50 is top-10% of qualified starters, and 1.97 (Paul Skenes) led the league.
A good ERA in today’s MLB is under 3.50; the 2025 league average was 4.15 and ≤2.50 marked the top ~10% of qualified starters.
- MLB league ERA (2025)4.15
- 2026 season to date4.21
- Top 10% of qualified starters≤ 2.50
- Bottom 10% (qualified)≥ 5.25
- 2025 ERA leader1.97 (Paul Skenes)
Source: Baseball-Reference league averages (2025 final; 2026 through early July); distribution cutoffs from FanGraphs qualified leaderboards.
ERA scale (2025, qualified starters)
| ERA | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Under 2.50 | Ace tier — top ~10% (1.97 (Paul Skenes) led MLB) |
| 2.50–3.49 | Very good; front-of-rotation |
| 3.50–4.14 | Better than the 4.15 league average |
| 4.15–5.24 | Back-of-rotation range |
| ≥ 5.25 | Bottom ~10% of qualified starters |
ERA is park- and era-dependent — a 3.80 in Coors Field is better than a 3.50 in a pitcher’s park, which is why ERA+ (100 = league average, adjusted) is the cleaner cross-era comparison. Our ERA calculator handles the arithmetic; this page handles the judgment.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good ERA?
Under 3.50 is good against the 2025 league average of 4.15; under 2.50 is top-10% of qualified starters; under 2.00 is a historic season.
What was the MLB average ERA in 2025?
4.15 across the league (4.21 in 2026 through early July).
Who had the best ERA in 2025?
1.97 (Paul Skenes) among qualified starters.
Is a 4.50 ERA bad?
Slightly below average in today's game — the league sits at 4.15. For a fifth starter or long reliever it's playable; for an ace it's a problem.
Sources & methodology
Sources: Baseball-Reference — 2025 MLB league averages · Baseball-Reference — 2026 season to date · FanGraphs 2025 qualified leaderboards.
League averages from Baseball-Reference; top/bottom-10% cutoffs read from the 2025 FanGraphs qualified leaderboards (approximate percentile anchors, labeled as such).