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MLB Games Lasting Longer Due to New ABS System
The Automated Ball-Strike system has created a new game-within-the-game, but may be contributing to slightly longer game times.
Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:33pm
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The new Automated Ball-Strike system has added a layer of complexity to the game, creating dramatic moments but also slightly longer game times.Phoenix TodayMajor League Baseball games have been lasting a little longer this season, with the average nine-inning game creeping up to 2 hours and 42 minutes through the first 2 1/2 weeks. One potential factor is the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, which has created a new dynamic within games as pitches are more frequently challenged. While an ABS challenge usually takes less than 15 seconds, the mini delays can add up if several pitches are contested. This is a tradeoff from the success of the pitch clock rule changes in 2023 that had dramatically shortened game times.
Why it matters
The slightly longer game times due to the ABS system go against the recent progress MLB has made in speeding up the pace of play. The pitch clock rules introduced in 2023 had been widely viewed as a success, reducing the average game time by around 25 minutes. The ABS system may be making a small dent in that progress, though game times are still considerably shorter than the pre-pitch clock era when games averaged over 3 hours and 10 minutes.
The details
Even though an ABS challenge usually takes less than 15 seconds, the mini delays in the game can add up if several pitches are contested. The average time of a nine-inning game has crept up from 2 hours and 38 minutes last season to 2 hours and 42 minutes through the first 2 1/2 weeks of the 2026 season.
- The pitch clock rules were introduced in 2023.
- The average time of a nine-inning game was 2 hours and 38 minutes last season.
- The average time of a nine-inning game is 2 hours and 42 minutes through the first 2 1/2 weeks of the 2026 season.
The players
Corbin Carroll
A 25-year-old outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks who leads the majors with three triples in just 14 games this season. He has led the league in triples over the past two seasons with 17 in 2025 and 14 in 2024.
Rob Thomson
The manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, who has seen his bullpen perform well early in the season, including reliable closer Jhoan Duran.
Andrew Painter
A rookie top prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies who appreciates the strong bullpen support after giving up four runs in four innings in a recent game.
Jordan Walker
A 23-year-old outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals who is having a strong bounce-back season, already hitting seven home runs through 15 games.
What they’re saying
“They stepped up, to go out there and throw up five more zeros after that. Offense stepped up, I'm super happy that everyone could pick me up.”
— Andrew Painter, Phillies Rookie Pitcher
The takeaway
The Automated Ball-Strike system has created a new dynamic within MLB games, but may be contributing to a slight uptick in game times after the league had made significant progress in speeding up the pace of play with the introduction of the pitch clock rules in 2023. While the ABS system is producing some dramatic moments, the mini delays from pitch challenges are adding up and offsetting some of the gains from the pitch clock.
