WHIP, or Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched, is a statistic used in baseball to measure a pitcher's effectiveness. It is calculated by adding the number of walks and hits allowed by the pitcher and then dividing that total by the number of innings pitched. A lower WHIP indicates better performance, as it means the pitcher is allowing fewer base runners. This metric is valuable for evaluating pitchers, as it provides insight into their ability to control the game. A pitcher with a low WHIP, such as Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer, is often seen as more reliable and effective in preventing runs.