GUIDES · BETSLIP DOCTOR
How should I read OPS+ and wRC+ without confusing them with raw OPS?
OPS is on-base percentage plus slugging percentage. OPS+ and wRC+ adjust offensive rates to a league context, including park effects, and use an index where 100 represents league average. They are adjusted indexes, not raw OPS or win probabilities.
For Bettors and cappers learning to read baseball records · Updated
Separate raw OPS from OPS+
Raw OPS adds on-base percentage and slugging percentage without normalizing the result for league and park context. MLB’s OPS+ formula uses league OBP and SLG references and presents the result on a scale where 100 is league average; the glossary also describes adjustments for external factors such as ballparks.
An OPS+ of 110 means 10 percent above league average on that index. It is not an OPS of 1.10, a 10 percent chance to win, or a claim about runs in one game.
Read wRC+ as a separate model
wRC+ is built from weighted run creation and adjusts for park and league context. It also uses 100 as league average, so 110 means 10 percentage points above average under that index. OPS+ and wRC+ can tell similar stories, but their inputs and calculations differ; do not substitute one value for the other.
When comparing players, keep the season, league, source and raw column visible alongside the adjusted indexes.
A fictional raw-versus-adjusted comparison
Illustrative comparison only, with invented values: Hitter A in Fictional Park North has OPS .850, OPS+ 108 and wRC+ 111. Hitter B in Fictional Park South has OPS .875, OPS+ 105 and wRC+ 106. The raw OPS column ranks B higher, while the two adjusted indexes show A above average by more on their respective scales. These values are not computed from real player or season data; use the provider’s calculation for an actual comparison.
Related questions
Does a 110 wRC+ mean 10 percent more wins?
No. It is an adjusted offensive rate index relative to league average, not a win total, game probability or sportsbook result.