Spot start

A Spot start is a game started by a pitcher who is not a regular member of the starting rotation. The pitcher may be normally a reliever who is asked to make the start, or someone called from the minor leagues for the occasion. The spot start may be necessitated by a doubleheader or a make-up game, by a starter having been pressed to pitch in relief in an extra-inning game, or because the manager wants to give a starter some extra rest for whatever reason.