MLB Keeps Pitch Clock for Playoffs, Despite Some Players Wanting More Time Between Pitches

The pitch clock is sticking around for the MLB playoffs.

MLB informed the Competition Committee that it will not amend any of the current rules for the postseason, Sports Illustrated reported on Friday.

Players had discussions about postseason play potentially benefiting from more time on the clock between pitches, considering the importance of individual games — and thus each individual pitch — in the playoffs, according to the report. But these discussions will go unrecognized, as MLB looks to keep the same pace of play it established this season.

This season was MLB's first with an official pitch clock, as pitchers must now deliver pitches within 15 seconds if the bases are empty and 20 seconds with a man on base.

The change has resulted in a notable reduction in game time and a brisker pace across baseball in 2023. The average time of game has been cut from 3:03 in 2022 to 2:39 so far this season, according to Baseball-Reference.

The pitch clock wasn't the only rule change MLB introduced this year. Bases are now slightly larger, the defensive shift was restricted (teams must keep the same number of infielders on each side of second base), and pitchers now have a limited amount of pickoff attempts per at-bat.

The rule changes have coincided with a handful of statistical changes in player and team production this year, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Stolen base success rate has jumped from 75.4% in 2022 to 80.2% this year. Total runs per game has increased from 8.6 last year to 9.2 now, and overall batting average across baseball has increased by six points, from .243 to .249.

Baseball fans will get their first look at how the rule changes affect big games in October when the postseason officially begins on Oct. 3.