How Long is an Average MLB Game?
The Major League Baseball (MLB) attracts millions of fans every season, and many of these fans have been wondering how long it takes to finish an average Major League Baseball game.
Real Time Factor
In 2020, the average Major League Baseball game lasted 3 hours and 8 minutes. That is slightly shortened compared to 2019 when the average game lasted 3 hours and 11 minutes.
Inning by Innings Breakdown
At first glance 3 hours may seem like a long time, but when you break it down inning by inning it doesn’t seem like so long:
- 1st Inning – average length is 7 to 8 minutes.
- 2nd Inning – average length is 6 to 8 minutes.
- 3rd Inning – average length is 8 to 10 minutes.
- 4th Inning – average length is 10 to 15 minutes.
- 5th Inning – average length is 12 to 15 minutes.
- 6th Inning – average length is 10 to 15 minutes.
- 7th Inning -average length is 10 to 15 minutes.
- 8th Inning – average length is 10 to 15 minutes.
- 9th Inning – average length is 10 to 15 minutes.
So, as we can see, the average Major League Baseball game is actually a relatively short period of time.
Your Experience May Vary
It is important to note that the actual length of the game can vary depending on factors such as how many innings there are, how many runs are scored, how many hits and errors there are, and most importantly, how many pitching changes there are.
For example, if there is a record number of pitching changes, the game will naturally take longer to play. There have been games that have gone on for 4 hours or more.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the average Major League Baseball game takes around 3 hours and 8 minutes, this can vary greatly depending on a variety of different factors. For the die-hard fans out there, it is still possible for the game to last for much longer than the average.
