Average Time Of Nine-inning Games Sets MLB Record Despite Efforts ...

Skip to main content Skip to navigation < > MLB average game time hits record high in 20214yDoes anyone beat Ohtani? Buster Olney ranks the top 10 designated hittersLos Angeles Dodgers20hBuster OlneyBuster Olney on MLB's top center fielders: Where do J-Rod, PCA and Buxton rank?Seattle Mariners2dBuster OlneyMets to start righty Peralta in opener vs. PiratesNew York Mets14hDodgers don't expect Snell to be ready for openerLos Angeles Dodgers9hGiants scratch Devers (hamstring) from lineupSan Francisco Giants11hAstros' Imai hit by comebacker in spring debutHouston Astros1dEx-pitcher Serafini gets life in prison for murder6hO's Basallo exits game with abdominal discomfortBaltimore Orioles1dU.S. denies 8 visas for Cuba's WBC delegation1dPadres reliever Matsui out of WBC for JapanSan Diego Padres1dThree A's, a whole lot of B's and one F -- but who got them? Final MLB offseason grades for all 30 teamsCleveland Guardians10dDavid SchoenfieldWay-too-early 2026 MLB All-Stars: Predicting full rosters for both the AL and NLArizona Diamondbacks2dDavid Schoenfield2026 MLB lineup rankings: Which teams have the best bats in baseball?Arizona Diamondbacks3dBradford Doolittle'You're looking at a Ferrari': Introducing Konnor Griffin, MLB's next teenage superstarPittsburgh Pirates20hJeff PassanAn Ivy League All-American? The next Theo Epstein? Why an ace chose Yale over the SEC20hJorge CastilloProspects to watch in the WBC: From the high school son of a former MLB All-Star to the next Mets aceNew York Mets2dKiley McDaniel'Sorry': Giants' Harrison Bader autographs food truck dented by spring training home runSan Francisco Giants2dAssociated PressMax Scherzer's re-signing with Blue Jays fulfills wish from daughter's letter to the clubToronto Blue Jays2dJ.J. Post2026 MLB draft rankings 1.0: Which college star is No. 1 on our list?Arizona Diamondbacks8dKiley McDanielDraft now, play later: Stashing these injured players is a winning move2dEric Karabell2026 ESPN Fantasy Baseball draft guide: Rankings, tips, strategy, stats and more15dESPN

• Associated Press

Multiple AuthorsOct 3, 2021, 11:23 PM ET

• 
• Email
• Print

NEW YORK -- The average time of a nine-inning game set a record once again this year despite Major League Baseball's efforts to improve pace.

The average was 3 hours, 10 minutes, 7 seconds for the 2021 regular season, the commissioner's office said after the regular season ended Sunday.

That was up from 3:07:46 for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and 3:05:35 in 2019.

Editor's Picks

• 

  MLB playoff tracker: Yankees and Red Sox clinch final two spots on last day of seasonESPN.com

MLB instituted a three-batter minimum for relievers in 2020, but active rosters were expanded to 28, giving managers more pitching options. Roster size dropped to 26 for most of this season before expanding to 28 from Sept. 1 on. That compares with 25 for most of the 2019 season and 40 from Sept. 1 on.