Starting pitcher: four innings in a five-inning shortened game, five innings in a game lasting six innings or more. Relief pitcher: one out. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/off... The starting pitcher must pitch 5 innings in order to qualify for the win in a major league game. The only exception is if a game is rained out and is only five innings long. Then the starting pitcher must pitch at least four innings. aaron · 9 years ago.