The pitch clock rules introduced in 2023 to speed up Major League Baseball games have dramatically improved the pace of most nine-inning games.
The year before the rule was implemented, there were 232 nine-inning games that lasted more than three hours and 30 minutes, and it was also the last season that the average game lasted that long. In 2023, there were only nine such games.
The time spent on the field also dropped, with the 2025 season averaging two hours and 38 minutes per game. Figures for 2026 have not been released yet, but expect an uptick in time as a result of the first season under the ABS challenge system.
The pitch clock rules that applied to the regular season will remain in effect for the Major League Baseball postseason, which
begins on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
MLB pitch clock rules
- Bases empty: Pitchers have 15 seconds to start their delivery
- Runners on base: Pitchers have 18 seconds to start their delivery; With runners on base, the timer resets if the pitcher attempts a pickoff or steps off the rubber
- Batters: Hitters must be in the box, alert to the pitcher, and ready by the 8-second mark on the pitch clock
- Penalties: A violation by the pitcher results in an automatic ball; a violation by the batter results in an automatic strike
- Pitchers are limited to two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per plate appearance and resets if runners advance during a plate appearance
- Umpires may provide extra time if warranted by special circumstances
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is there a pitch clock in MLB playoffs?
