In the heart-pounding excitement of October baseball, every second counts. But in the 2024 World Series, those seconds seemed to stretch a little longer, despite the pitch clock’s best efforts. According to new data, nine-inning games in the Fall Classic averaged 3 hours and 19 minutes this year, a noticeable increase from the 3:01 mark set in 2023.
The uptick in game times comes as a surprise to many, given the pitch clock’s impressive impact on the regular season. In 2024, the average MLB contest clocked in at a brisk 2:36, shaving a full 28 minutes off the pre-pitch clock era. So what happened when the stakes were highest?
Dissecting the World Series Slowdown
Baseball insiders point to a few key factors that may have contributed to the longer postseason durations:
- Increased mid-inning pitching changes (5.2 per game, up from 3.8 in 2023)
- Higher scoring games (10.0 runs per game, compared to 9.3 in 2023)
- More pitches thrown (315 per game, the most since 2018)
The Strategy Factor
With a championship on the line, managers are more likely to make frequent pitching changes to gain any possible advantage. As one anonymous front office executive explained, “In the playoffs, every out matters. You’re going to see more specialized matchups and quicker hooks for starters.”
“The pitch clock definitely speeds things up, but in the World Series, strategy is always going to take precedence over pace of play.”
– A rival GM, speaking on condition of anonymity
Offensive Outbursts
Higher-scoring games naturally take longer to complete, and the 2024 World Series was no exception. With sluggers squaring up pitches and rallies seemingly always threatening, the ball was in play more often, extending innings and adding precious minutes to the overall game time.
Pitch Count Concerns
While pitchers have adapted to the pitch clock’s rhythms, the intensity of the World Series can lead to more nibbling around the strike zone. This year’s Fall Classic saw an average of 315 pitches per game, a notable increase from the regular season and a potential contributor to the lengthier contests.
Keeping It in Perspective
Despite the slight increase in World Series game times, it’s important to remember just how far baseball has come. In 2022, the last pre-pitch clock season, nine-inning contests averaged a yawn-inducing 3:24. By that measure, 2024’s Fall Classic looks downright speedy.
And for all the hand-wringing over pace of play, the drama and excitement of the World Series remain unmatched. As one diehard fan put it, “I’ll take an extra 18 minutes of October baseball over a shorter regular season game any day of the week.”
The Future of the Pitch Clock
Looking ahead, MLB has already announced tweaks to the pitch clock for the 2025 season. With runners on base, pitchers will have 18 seconds to deliver the ball, down from 20 seconds in 2024. The hope is that this adjustment will help shave a few more minutes off game times without sacrificing strategic intrigue.
At the end of the day, the pitch clock’s impact on baseball has been undeniably positive. Shaving nearly a half-hour off the average regular season game is no small feat. And if the World Series serves as a reminder that high-stakes baseball operates at its own pace, that’s a tradeoff most fans are more than willing to accept.
