A 2.54 earned run average (ERA) is a statistic used in baseball to measure a pitcher's effectiveness. It represents the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings pitched. A lower ERA indicates better performance, as it means the pitcher is allowing fewer runs to score. For example, if a pitcher has a 2.54 ERA, it means they allow approximately 2.54 earned runs for every nine innings they pitch. This statistic helps teams and fans evaluate a pitcher's skill and consistency over a season, making it an important metric in assessing player performance.