In
baseball statistics,
games started (denoted by GS) indicates the number of
games that a
pitcher has
started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he throws the first pitch to the first opposing batter. If a player is listed in the starting lineup as the team's pitcher, but is replaced before facing an opposing batter, the player is credited with a game pitched but not a game started; there have been instances in
major league history in which a starting pitcher was removed before his first pitch due to an injury, perhaps suffered while
batting or
running the bases during the top half of the first inning.