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Glite Dictionary
starting pitcher

starting pitcher

14 3.5
A pitcher who begins the game for their baseball team
  • noun
  • /ˈstɑrtɪŋ ˈpɪtʃər/
translation icon : abridor
  • In 1983, I was the starting pitcher in the Little League World Series.
  • starting pitcher and reliever
  • starting pitcher in game
  • best starting pitcher

Like I remember a thing is you can't interview the starting pitcher the day, the day they start.

Examples

  • Did you know that they have used 15 different starting pitchers because of injury this year?!

    Blog text (19)

  • How many innings does a starting pitcher have to pitch to get the win?

    Million Dollar Arm (2014)

  • I do think the A's will go after a free agent starting pitcher in an attempt to improve their depth.

    Blog text (17)

  • WILDER: The starting pitcher announced for this game was Dan Prince.

    Angels in the Outfield (1994)

  • Kelly, even the best starting pitcher occasionally needs a reliever to come in and take over.

    Mamaboy (2016)

  • In the short term, it would seem logical to deal Youkilis for another starting pitcher.

    Blog text (10)

  • Given the names targeted by the Dodgers, their quest for a starting pitcher will be rather costly.

    Blog text (16)

  • One of those players is Bud Norris, starting pitcher for the Houston Astros.

    Blog text (12)

  • Despite pitching five scoreless innings, starting pitcher Adam Wainwright will take the heat for walking his last two batters.

    Blog text (17)

  • In 1983, I was the starting pitcher in the Little League World Series.

Synonyms

starter
vsstarting pitcher
140 3.0

A player who begins the game on the field or court

is the specific player who begins a baseball game to throw to batters

Surface Forms

starting pitcher singular
starting pitchers plural

Morphology

start + pitcher

The meaning 'a pitcher designated to begin the game' is directly derivable from combining 'starting' (beginning) with 'pitcher' (the player who throws the ball); the modifier clearly indicates temporal/role status. This compositional noun phrase is common in sports terminology and across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely understand it.

Etymology

The noun starting pitcher comes from baseball: the pitcher who starts the game by throwing the first ball. That's why it means the pitcher chosen 'to begin the game'.