Baseball games, particularly Major League Baseball (MLB) games, do not have a fixed time limit and are structured around innings rather than a clock. A standard MLB game consists of nine innings, with each inning divided into two halves where each team bats once

. Average Length of MLB Games:

• In recent years, the average length of a nine-inning MLB game has been around 2 hours and 36 minutes, a significant decrease from previous averages of about 3 hours and 10 minutes a few seasons ago

• This reduction is largely due to the introduction of the pitch clock in 2023, which limits the time pitchers and batters take between pitches, speeding up the pace of play

• For the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the average game time is expected to hover around 2 hours and 35 minutes, continuing the trend of shorter games

Factors Influencing Game Length:

• Number of pitching changes, offensive activity, and the pace of play can affect game duration

• Extra innings, which occur if the game is tied after nine innings, can extend the game well beyond the average, sometimes lasting 3 to 4 hours or more, especially in playoff games

• Other factors include commercial breaks, weather delays, and replay reviews

Other Levels of Baseball:

• College baseball games tend to be shorter, averaging about 2.5 hours

• Youth baseball games are typically even shorter, lasting between 1.5 to 2 hours

In summary, a typical MLB baseball game lasts about 2 hours and 35 minutes under current rules, but actual game length can vary widely depending on gameplay factors and whether the game goes into extra innings