Getty Image / Orlando Ramirez
It’s well-known that starting pitchers in MLB are not going as deep into games as they used to decades ago. There are lots of reasons for that, but there’s no denying the trend.
Major League Baseball apparently thinks this is a big problem. So much so, in fact, that they are considering a drastic measure to make starting pitchers pitch longer.
In 2023, the average length of a start for a starting pitcher was 5.1 innings. That’s a huge step-down from the 6 innings a start that pitchers were lasting as recently as 2011.
There are a few reasons for this. The first is that Major League hitters have improved, and to get them out pitchers have had to resort to higher-velocity and higher-spin pitches. Those pitches require more effort and strain and tire pitchers out quicker. The other part of it is that the data shows that hitters really start to improve against pitchers the third time through the batting order. Most MLB managers would rather have a fresh bullpen arm pitch the 6th inning than have a tiring starter pitch to batters he’s already faced a few times.
Major League Baseball doesn’t like this, and according to ESPN they’re looking into forcing starters to go six innings.
The league has discussed a limit to the size of pitching staffs and the double-hook DH, according to sources familiar with the discussion. There is some belief around the game, however, that one idea could be a panacea: requiring starting pitchers to go at least six innings every time they take the mound.
The article goes on to say that there are some carve-outs being talked about, which include a pitcher reaching 100 pitches, giving up four earned runs, or being removed for injury with a mandatory stint on the IL coming afterwards.
They want to do this to return the prestige of the starting pitcher and to possibly force pitchers to pitch to contact more, which should cut down on injuries.
Those reasons are all valid. But, to me, this is too much involvement from the league office to change the game. Yes, it’s a shame when the league’s top pitchers come out after 5 good innings. But, this really strips the ability for managers to manage the game and make a difference. Forcing teams to make suboptimal decisions for minimal benefit for the fans is not worth it.
Yes, people pay to go see pitchers like Pirates flamethrower Paul Skenes go pitch. But, he’s not near as fun if he has to pace himself a little bit and isn’t throwing quite as hard or with quite as much spin.
Who knows if MLB will put this rule into place, but I think it can be argued that they shouldn’t.