The Joy of Sox · Jan 2, 2020
No Evidence Exists Showing "Three-Batter Minimum" Rule Will Lead To Quicker Games
Beginning with the 2020 season, Rule 5.10(g) will state that both starting and relief pitchers are required to pitch to either a minimum of three batters or to the end of a half-inning, with exceptions only for injury or illness. Commissioner Rob Manfred claims that this change will decrease the average time per game.
Opinions on this new rule run the gamut, from "no big deal" (Anthony Castrovince, mlb.com) to "a huge mistake" (Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated) to "it will barely matter" (Ben Clemens, FanGraphs) to "it will have a significant effect" (Matt Provenzano, Beyond The Box Score).
