The Line Score
The line score sits at the top: runs scored by each team in each inning, followed by total Runs, Hits, and Errors (R-H-E). It tells you the shape of the game at a glance — a 1-0 pitchers’ duel reads very differently from a 9-8 slugfest.
The Batting Lines
Each hitter gets a row: AB (at-bats), R (runs scored), H (hits), RBI (runs batted in), BB (walks), SO (strikeouts), and a season AVG. A line like 4-1-2-3 means four at-bats, one run, two hits, three runs batted in — a productive night.
The Pitching Lines
Each pitcher gets IP (innings pitched), H, R, ER (earned runs), BB, SO, and an ERA. ER excludes runs that scored because of an error. A starting line of 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 SO is a quality start.
Putting It Together
With a little practice you can read a box score and narrate the game: who carried the offense, whether the starter was sharp, and whether the bullpen held. That same structured data is exactly what feeds a prediction model — just at far greater scale.