MLB Average Game Time Increased in 2026
The average nine-inning game reached 2 hours and 42 minutes, rising by nearly four minutes this season.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Baseball
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Major League Baseball saw its average nine-inning game time rise to 2 hours and 42 minutes in 2026. This represents an increase of 3 minutes and 43 seconds compared to the 2025 season.
Why it matters
The shift marks a change in the steady reduction of game times that characterized previous seasons. It highlights the impact of new technological implementations on the duration of professional baseball games.
The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System accounted for 61 seconds of the total game time increase in 2026. This technology allows players to appeal ball and strike decisions to a computer.
The players
Major League Baseball
This is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada that manages the league rules and schedule.
The details
The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System allows batters, catchers, and pitchers to appeal ball and strike decisions to a computer. This system is a primary contributor to the extra 61 seconds added to the average game duration this season.
Timeline
1984: Average game time was 2 hours and 35 minutes.
2016: Average game time passed three hours for the first time.
2021: Average game time reached a record 3 hours and 10 minutes.
2022: Average game time was 3 hours and 4 minutes.
2026: Average game time increased to 2 hours and 42 minutes.
Season Trajectory
The 2026 data shows a departure from the recent downward trend in game times that defined the post-2021 period. This shift impacts league-wide pacing expectations as officials continue to balance technological integration with game efficiency.
The average nine-inning game now requires 3 minutes and 43 seconds more of viewer attention than in the previous season. Fans and broadcasters can expect the inclusion of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System to continue influencing the total time of games.
The takeaway
The rise in game time reflects the ongoing challenge of balancing new technology with the pace of play. Fans should adjust their viewing expectations for future games as the league continues to refine the use of automated systems.
Further reading
For more on professional league trends, see the Baseball section.
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