A guide to the 2021 MLB season
The 2020 Major League Baseball season has been postponed by over four months because to the COVID-19 epidemic, which began in March. The traditional 162-game calendar was finally reduced to 60 games, with clubs playing in empty ballparks as a result of health and safety regulations. As Opening Day 2021 neared, fans had a slew of questions, including “Will baseball be back in 2021?” and “Will baseball be back in 2021?” among other things, “Will Major League Baseball let fans into stadiums?” This comprehensive reference to the 2021 Major League Baseball season will assist you in your preparations for the season.
But what about additional rule modifications that may be implemented?
As a result, the designated hitter is only employed in American League ballparks, with pitchers returning to the plate in National League ballparks.
A home run by Adrian Houser of the Milwaukee Brewers on April 27 was followed by another by Huascar Ynoa of the Atlanta Braves on April 28, and then another on May 4 when he fired a grand slam.
- First and foremost, doubleheaders will once again consist of two seven-inning games.
- Following an expansion in 2020, the rosters are once again comprised of 26 players.
- There will be no restriction to the number of pitchers who may be used on a team’s roster.
- the Major League Baseball and the COVID-19 Last year, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic caused Spring Training to be cancelled in mid-March and Opening Day to be postponed.
- They subsequently proceeded on a more extensive postseason schedule.
- COVID-19, on the other hand, will continue to have an impact on MLB in 2021.
- As immunizations continue, though, limitations are becoming less stringent.
The regular season, All-Star Game, and postseason are all played in the same year.
Once again, this will be the case in 2021, with the league sticking to its previously announced timetable, which runs from April 1 through October 3.
As the season advances, each of the 30 clubs will announce their plans for attendance, which will be influenced by changes in local regulations and limits as the season goes.
Keep an eye on MLB.com and the websites of each individual team for further information, since policies are subject to change during the season.
It will take place on July 13.
Instead, it will be staged in Coors Field in Denver, where it has not been held since 1998.
You may get more information on All-Star Week in Denver, including ticket information, by visiting this page.
While the playoff field was enlarged from 10 to 16 clubs for the 2020 season, that agreement was only in effect for one year.
In the absence of a collective bargaining agreement, the playoffs will once again feature five-team fields in both the American League and the National League, with both leagues beginning with win-or-go-home Wild Card Games.
An unintended consequence of the pandemic was the cancellation of the entire 2020 Minor League season, which was replaced by each team operating its own alternate training site in order to maintain a ready supply of roster replacements and provide hands-on instruction to some of the league’s most promising prospects.
The Minors, on the other hand, started underway on May 4 with a rebuilt and streamlined version of the team.
Notably, things will be a little different in the Minors by 2021, with MLB’s announcement that each level would serve as a trial ground for rule modifications.
In addition to wider, less slippery bases (at Triple-A), limits on infield positioning (at Double-A), and a 15-second pitch clock (at Double-A), the regulations include: (in the Low-A West).
The outcomes of these modifications will be reviewed in order to decide whether they should be considered for future implementation in the Majors.
MLB renews 7-inning doubleheaders, runners on second base in extra innings
- NEW YORK – Seven-inning doubleheaders and runners on second base to start extra innings will return for a second consecutive season under an agreement for 2021 health protocols reached Monday between Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The deal did not include last year’s experimental rule to extend the designated hitter to the National League or expanded playoffs. After permitting 16 teams in the postseason last year instead of 10, MLB had recommended 14 for this year before retracting that notion last month. Last year’s extended postseason deal did not come together until hours before the season’s first pitch. There were 78 extra-inning games last year, and the longest by innings were a pair of 13-inning contests at Houston, won by the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 29 and by Oakland on Aug. 7. Every previous season since 1901 had at least one game of 15 innings or longer. There were 45 games postponed for COVID-19-related reasons and just two were not made up, between St. Louis and Detroit. In order to accomplish that, there were 56 doubleheaders, the most since 76 in 1984. About 12 percent of games were part of doubleheaders, the highest percentage since 13.6 in 1978. The agreement includes more sophisticated contact tracing for COVID-19 that includes the use of technology, and more league rules on behavior to comply with novel coronavirus protocols. Spring training opens Feb. 17 and the season starts April 1. The union last week rejected MLB’s proposal to delay spring training and opening day until April 28, a plan that would have led to a compressed schedule of 154 games per team instead of the usual 162. Last season’s start was delayed from March 26 to July 23 because of the pandemic, and each team’s schedule was cut to 60 games
MLB’s extra-innings rule is back in 2021; here’s why baseball should use ties instead
Four of the 13 Major League Baseball games that ended up being played on Opening Day went into extra innings. As a result, the extra-innings rule, which has been in effect since the beginning of the 2020 season, ended up playing an outsized role on one of baseball’s most important days of the year on the calendar. According to MLBnow, each half inning beyond the ninth inning – or, in other words, extra innings – begins with a runner on second base and no outs, for those who are unfamiliar or wilfully forgetful.
- The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees in a ten-run victory, with that automatic runner driving in the winning run. Randul Grichuk drove in two runs in the first inning with an RBI double. Yes, he started the inning with a single and scored an RBI that did not come on a home run. Even though the phrase “anything is possible” is one of the greatest lies ever told, there is some truth to it in this case
- TheBrewers won on a walk-off fielder’s choice after an Orlando Arcia grounder to second plated the automatic runner
- Bryce Harperserved as the Phillies’ automatic runner in the 10th inning against theBraves
- And theBrewers won on a walk-off fielder’s choice after an Orlando Arcia ground In the second, he advanced to third on a ground ball and then scored the winning run on aJean Segurasingle down the line that would’ve been playable if the corners hadn’t been in because of Harper. At Safeco Field in Seattle, Giants reliever Jose Alvarez walked three consecutive players in the 10th inning to force in the charity runner.
The objective, which is a good one, is to reduce the number of marathon-length games that last, say, 13, 14, 19, or even more innings on rare occasions. In light of the current pandemic circumstances, this makes sense, and it also makes sense when it comes to preventing the mutilation of pitching staffs and the accumulation of roster-wide exhaustion. The decision to retain the wrinkle in place for the 2021 season is arguable, but let’s assume it was required. The danger is that we grow accustomed to it and that it becomes a permanent regulation in Major League Baseball.
- No, it isn’t unfair or anything like that; after all, each team receives the freebie runner as part of the package.
- At this point, we’re entering the subjective realm of aesthetic choice, but it’s important to note that awarding each side an unearned baserunner amounts to a mild corruption of the game.
- Apart from that, some form of fail-safe to prevent games from lasting, say, five or six hours is usually popular with players, front offices, and commissioner Rob Manfred, who appears to like baseball the most when there is less of it.
- In other words, if we accept that the former framework for extra-inning games, i.e., “let all available gods sort it out no matter how long it takes,” will not be reinstated, we should devise a more agreeable alternative to what is now in place.
- If influence and the ability to exercise agency were clothing, this scribe would be more bare-chested than Clark the Cub as he stands before you.
- Instead of the automatic runner, MLB should work with the players to develop an alternative rule that stipulates any game that stays knotted after 12 innings would be considered a tie in the standings.
- Also, keep in mind that something like this would be quite rare.
The championNationals, for example, only played one (1) regular season game that lasted more than 12 minutes over the whole season.
The method described here happens to be identical to the one that is utilized at the top level of professional baseball in Japan.
They were particularly popular in the early days of the sport, when stadium lights were not yet in use and, as a result, games were sometimes called off due to darkness.
If that was too long ago for you, then know that the Cubs and Pirates battled to a 1-1 draw in 2016 due of inclement weather that suspended play in the sixth inning of the game.
When computing victory percentages, treat them as if they were half a win and half a defeat.
The alternative is what we witnessed in four separate places on Opening Day, so bring on the ties, people. Though not numerous, they are sufficient to obviate the necessity of scoring decisive runs, which are often spectral in character.
All the Changes Coming to Baseball in 2021
What’s new in baseball this year, you might wonder. There’s a lot to choose from, starting with the actual baseball. In addition, major improvements are being implemented in minor league baseball as Major League Baseball becomes more serious (and open) about how to modernize the game. This week, Michael Hill, senior vice president of on-field operations, convened a seminar with broadcast partners to discuss the adjustments that will be made to major and minor league fields. Minor league modifications are being distributed among many leagues so that their impact may be identified rather than lost in the accumulation of changes.
In 2021, the future of baseball will be decided by Verducci.
1. A Less Lively Baseball
Where:MLB In response to changes in ball flight during the previous several years, a group of scientific experts proposed that the gap between the specifications of the official baseball be narrowed in the future (i.e., size, weight, coefficient of restitution, or COR). Many of the baseballs were hitting the “hotter” end of the gap as they were thrown. It is anticipated that the COR will be in the center of the tighter spec gap this year, which will eliminate baseballs at the “hot” end of the previous gap.
- What role will it play?
- According to the MLB, clubs used 2020 baseballs for practically the entire duration of spring training.
- The idea is for the 7-8-9 batters to not hit as many opposite field bombs as they do now.
- The major league home run hitters should continue to smash home runs.
- Another point to mention regarding the baseballs: More than half of the 30 baseball venues will preserve them in a humidor this season, increasing the total number of climate-controlled storage facilities to ten.
- The idea is to establish consistency in all aspects of life.
- MLB has done it in the past.
2. Interference Rule
Where:MLB This is the only new regulation that has been implemented at the major league level this season. If, following a dropped third strike, the umpire or hitter accidently deflects the baseball, preventing it from reaching the catcher, the batter is out and the runners are restored to their starting positions on the bases.
As previously stated, this is clarification to an existing regulation that makes it clear that purpose is not taken into account. Sam Greene of The Enquirer and USA Today Sports contributed to this report.
3. Extra-Inning Runner at Second Base
Where:MLBO Okay, this isn’t a novel concept. This one, though, was triggered by COVID-19 protocols last year in order to minimize long days at the stadium, and it is now officially in place. Games that went into extra innings last year finished in the 10th inning 69 percent of the time, compared to 46 percent in 2017 through 2019. Following the implementation of an immediate rally, extra-inning viewership on MLB.tv increased by up to double in 2020 when compared to 2016–19, according to MLB numbers.
- One further change is required: in the tenth, the starting lineups for each team should be reset.
- (The No.
- Consider this: in football and basketball, overtime is a full restart of the game.
- To be honest, I’d bet you’d switch channels if you knew that Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr., Mookie Betts and other stars were scheduled to bat in the 10th inning rather than some haphazard group from lower in the order.
4. Umpire Review Announcements
It was originally planned for umpires to broadcast outcomes of replay alterations with NFL-style explanations over public address systems last year, but COVID-19 nullified those intentions. The umpires are on board, and the plans are still in place, but COVID-19 protocols are still causing a delay in the implementation of the system. It’s possible that such announcements may be made in time for playoff play this year. If not, the project should be completed by 2022. Expert Predictions for the Playoffs and the World Series
5. Better Bases
When and where:Triple A This is such a brilliant concept that it should have been implemented in the majors for the current season. Despite the fact that I have been screaming into the abyss about the unsafe employment conditions that exist at the existing bases for years, nothing has changed. It was extremely difficult and slippery, especially when rainy. Bases have kept talented players like Bryce Harper and Mike Trout out of the game, but baseball and the union continue to put its players at danger for injuries to their thumbs, hands, knees, shoulders, and feet that are preventable.
The new base is 18 by 18 inches in size, which is three inches wider in each direction than the present base in each direction.
What’s the best part?
When it comes to MLB:2022, Cheryl Evans of The Republic and USA Today Sports contributed to this report.
6. Restricting the Shift
Double A is located where: Each of the four infielders must have his or her feet within the outer limit of the infield dirt as soon as the pitch is thrown. Rover, we’ll miss you. Until further notice, 200-foot line drives to right field will no longer result in tedious 4–3 putouts. It still allows teams to shift, but they are unable to play the flex-prevent defense that they used to. It is possible that MLB would restrict the shift completely in the second half of the season, which would necessitate two infielders to be on each side of second base.
When you’re in MLB:2022, you’re in baseball.
Now that the players realize the importance of bringing the game back, they can demonstrate their athleticism.
7. Step-off Rule
Where:At the top of the A A pickoff attempt requires the pitcher to leave the rubber in order to make the attempt. (This is directed at you, lefties; no more of those dangling balk movements.) Once again, the goal is to incentivise the theft of the stolen base. And, my, did it actually work. Stopped-stealing attempts per game increased from 1.02 to 1.73 in the Atlantic League in 2019, and the success rate increased from 75.5 percent to 80.9 percent when this regulation was put to the test in 2019.
In addition, there is a regulation in all of Low A that limits pickoff attempts to no more than two per plate appearance.
If this is not the case, it is a balk.
Despite the fact that this is an excellent concept, it is not a priority.
8. 15-Second Pitch Clock
What is the location:Low A (West) Nothing will have a more immediate and significant influence on making baseball more fan-friendly than the implementation of a pitch clock. When it comes to MLB:2022, it’s possible, but only under certain conditions, like as with the bases empty. Players have showed little interest in it, but a game that now provides viewers with one pitch every 24.9 seconds is in desperate need of this type of assistance. VERDUCCI: Major League Baseball can’t afford to wait much longer to address its pace of play crisis.
9. Automatic Strike Zone
What is the location:Low A (two-thirds of games in Southeast) From its current three-dimensional “box” shape, the striking zone will be transformed into a two-dimensional “window” that is flush with the front edge of the plate. Top of the zone will be 56 percent of the batter’s height, bottom line will be 28 percent of the batter’s height, and middle line will be 56 percent of the batter’s height. When the season begins in MLB:2023 or later. Baseball needs to examine how the technology performs in real-game situations before making any decisions about it.
The goal is to reduce the strikeout rate while increasing the number of balls in play.
It’s a terrific idea that just need more time for growth, especially at the highest levels of the organization.
How many innings in baseball? Beginner’s guide
Do you require assistance with queries such as how many innings are played in baseball? To begin with, baseball is a sport that dates back to 1744, and comparable playing concepts have persisted since then, according to Wikipedia. While baseball is played all over the world, it is most popular in North America, Canada, and Japan, with the World Series of Baseball serving as the pinnacle of the sport’s competitive landscape.
How Many Innings in Baseball?
A baseball game consists of two teams, each of which has nine innings to score runs against the other. In an inning known as a ‘at bat,’ a player from the opposing batting club is sent to the plate. For the purpose of preventing the hitter from scoring, the pitching team will have nine men out on the field.
What Is The Duration Of A Baseball Inning?
The length of the game is governed by the number of at-bats, the number of pitching modifications, and the tempo of the pitcher. An inning consists of a total of six outs, three on each side of the field. In theory, if the fielding team does not report three outs, an inning might go on indefinitely without being completed. The innings are divided into two halves, with the visiting team taking the field in the first half and the home team taking the field in the second. In Major League Baseball, if both teams are tied at the completion of nine innings of play, the game continues and more innings are played until one side scores more runs than the other.
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The average baseball game lasts around three hours, however this can vary based on the number of innings of baseball that are played as well as other elements that may interfere with the game’s progress. In a baseball game, nine innings are played over the course of approximately three hours. However, there is no time limit for each inning, and some players do not make it all the way to the ninth inning at all.
How Long Major League Baseball Games Last—and Why
Whenever a Major League Baseball game is still tied after nine innings, the teams continue to play extra innings until one club has scored significantly more runs at the end of an inning than the other team. A runner is placed on second base (the base immediately behind home plate) after each pitch in 2020, for example. In order to facilitate a speedier result and prevent a team’s starting staff from pitching 15 or more innings, the inning should be pitched in the batter’s strike zone if possible.
If, on the other hand, the home side is ahead at the completion of the top half of the ninth inning, the game can be completed in 8.5 innings.
How to Determine the Value of Basketball Cards is a related article.
Why is this?
The precise amount of time it takes to finish a game in hours and minutes varies from match to match and from player to player. It takes longer for pitchers to throw between pitches, and it takes longer between innings, with the duration between innings varying from 1:55 to 2:55 in the Post 2020 season owing to broadcast standards. Because most pitchers spend longer time between pitches when there are runners on base, a large number of base runners can significantly extend a game. Furthermore, games with several pitching changes or replay troubles take longer to complete as a result of the numerous pauses and starts that occur during the course of the game.
Previously, it was common for opposing teams to compete for more than four hours, and this was the standard practice.
During the minor league season, they are used to evaluate pitchers by limiting the time between pitches to 20 seconds while the bases are clear. Several more aspects that you should be aware of that impact the length of a baseball game are discussed in further detail below.
What Is The Duration Of A Minor League Baseball Game?
Unlike Major League Baseball, minor league baseball, which comprises AAA, AA, and a few other baseball professional sports leagues, follows the same inning regulations as the major leagues. When it comes to the number of innings in baseball, the 20-second pitch clock has been used in the AAA and AA levels, which has reduced games by 12 minutes on average. In the minors, a doubleheader is a game that lasts seven innings.
What Is The Duration Of A Collegiate Baseball Game?
Nine innings are also the length of a collegiate baseball game. A doubleheader can be played for seven innings in specific circumstances, with one or both games lasting seven innings. The invocation of the mercy rule occurs when a team is ahead by at least 10 runs after seven innings—or five innings in seven-inning games—of play. As a result, the game has come to an end. Related Article: Who is the oldest player in the National Football League?
What Is The Duration Of A High School Baseball Game?
You might wonder how many innings there are in a baseball game. Baseball games at the high school level are seven innings in length. It is possible to play a formal game in four innings if the weather is inclement. Because some high school fields lack illumination, darkness might be an issue; nevertheless, play can be resumed later if necessary. A mercy rule is used if a team leads by 10 runs after four innings and the game is still tied.
Different Types Of Innings In Baseball
Baseball innings may be divided into five categories:
- Top of the Inning– The top of the Inning is the first inning in which the opposition side is in action. This will continue until three hitters have been struck out. Typically, these hitters have not made contact with the ball. Middle of the Inning– The middle of the Inning acts as a transitional zone between the top of the Inning and the bottom of it. During this time, players should change their equipment and make plans for the upcoming turnover. In most cases, this time is between two and three minutes
- Bottom of the Inning– With both sides having completed their preparations, the host team will go first to bat. As also, the away club will field and make every effort to keep any runs from being scored during the inning. 9th Inning– In the majority of circumstances, the 9th Inning signals the conclusion of the regular season game. In some circumstances, the 9th Inning is not completed until three outs have been recorded
- In other cases, the 9th Inning is not completed until three outs have been recorded.
In accordance with 9th inning baseball regulations, if either the home team or the away team is ahead at the beginning of the 9th Inning, or if the home team is ahead at the bottom of the 9th Inning, the game is finished and play is halted. If the scores are still knotted at the end of the ninth inning, extra innings will be played, allowing each side to advance one more time. This will continue until a winner has been determined.
To Sum It Up
Ultimately, even though they are governed under precise laws and regulations that limit the game’s duration, baseball games, in particular, never endure the same amount of time. On average, it takes slightly more than 3 hours to finish a typical baseball game’s number of innings. Despite the fact that this is a long period of time, it is unquestionably America’s national sport because of its famous events. It has exhilarating plays as well as home runs that fly out of the park!
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According to multiple reports, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached an agreement on health and safety protocols on Monday, which includes the return of seven-inning doubleheaders and the reinstatement of a free runner at second base to begin each extra inning beginning in 2021. Last year, the extra-inning regulation was agreed upon before the start of the season, which was reduced as a result of the pandemic, which began in July. Seven-inning doubleheaders were introduced to the schedule a week into the season in order to reduce some of the load of possibly rescheduling games that were postponed as a result of COVID-19 or other circumstances.
77 games went into extra innings last year, including nine games that were initially scheduled for seven innings as part of a doubleheader and were extended to eight innings.
92.2 percent of games that went into extra innings last season were decided by the second extra frame, compared to 69.1 percent in the two seasons before that.
Length of extra-inning games
| Year | Extra-inning games | 10 innings | 11 innings | 12 innings | 13+ innings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Extra-inning games | 10 innings | 11 innings | 12 innings | 13+ innings |
| 2018 | 216 | 100 (46.2%) | 44 (20.4%) | 33 (15.3%) | 39 (18.1%) |
| 2019 | 208 | 91 (43.8%) | 58 (27.9%) | 22 (10.6%) | 37 (17.8%) |
| 2020* | 77 | 54 (70.1%) | 17 (22.1%) | 4 (5.2%) | 2 (2.6%) |
When it came to 7-inning doubleheaders in 2020, I counted the first 8 innings as 10-inning games (which is their equal for a regular 9-inning game), the second 8 innings as 11, and so on. In 2020, the longest game by inning was 13 innings, which was completed twice, including the Dodgers’ victory against the Astros on July 29 in Houston. That accounted for only 2.6 percent of all extra-inning games last season, compared to 18 percent of extra-inning games lasting at least that long in 2018-19, according to the National Baseball Association.
In December, manager Dave Roberts admitted that he was initially suspicious of several of the new regulations implemented last season, but that he eventually came around to them, particularly the runner on second base rule.
According to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press, other health and safety precautions that were agreed upon included “more sophisticated contact tracking for COVID-19 that includes the use of technology, and stricter league regulations on conduct to conform with modern coronavirus standards.” The designated hitter in the National League, which was implemented last year as a result of a shorter ramp-up period in summer camp following a lengthy layoff, is not included in the procedures.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the following is where the two sides diverge on this issue: As a health and safety concern, the union views the implementation of a full-time designated hitter as necessary to safeguard pitchers, none of whom hit last season and all of whom will be attempting to rehabilitate their arms after a shorter season (and no minor league campaign).
2021 Major League Baseball Season Summary
| Tm | Bat | BatAge | R/G | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | LOB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 64 | 28.9 | 4.19 | 162 | 6144 | 5489 | 679 | 1297 | 308 | 31 | 144 | 644 | 43 | 16 | 537 | 1465 | .236 | .309 | .382 | .692 | 87 | 2099 | 99 | 54 | 32 | 28 | 24 | 1131 |
| Atlanta Braves | 56 | 28.2 | 4.91 | 161 | 6056 | 5363 | 790 | 1307 | 269 | 20 | 239 | 762 | 59 | 19 | 549 | 1453 | .244 | .319 | .435 | .754 | 96 | 2333 | 81 | 67 | 32 | 43 | 36 | 1054 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 62 | 26.7 | 4.07 | 162 | 5983 | 5420 | 659 | 1296 | 266 | 15 | 195 | 632 | 54 | 23 | 451 | 1454 | .239 | .304 | .402 | .705 | 90 | 2177 | 105 | 65 | 14 | 31 | 12 | 1033 |
| Boston Red Sox | 56 | 28.0 | 5.12 | 162 | 6122 | 5495 | 829 | 1434 | 330 | 23 | 219 | 783 | 40 | 21 | 512 | 1386 | .261 | .328 | .449 | .777 | 104 | 2467 | 100 | 61 | 10 | 42 | 22 | 1071 |
| Chicago Cubs | 69 | 29.1 | 4.35 | 162 | 5972 | 5306 | 705 | 1255 | 225 | 26 | 210 | 672 | 86 | 37 | 502 | 1596 | .237 | .312 | .407 | .719 | 93 | 2162 | 133 | 92 | 40 | 30 | 17 | 1001 |
| Chicago White Sox | 47 | 28.0 | 4.91 | 162 | 6084 | 5357 | 796 | 1373 | 275 | 22 | 190 | 757 | 57 | 20 | 586 | 1389 | .256 | .336 | .422 | .758 | 107 | 2262 | 139 | 78 | 24 | 39 | 10 | 1111 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 55 | 28.9 | 4.85 | 162 | 6162 | 5423 | 786 | 1352 | 295 | 13 | 222 | 756 | 36 | 24 | 553 | 1425 | .249 | .328 | .431 | .759 | 93 | 2339 | 129 | 105 | 35 | 45 | 22 | 1085 |
| Cleveland Indians | 48 | 26.7 | 4.43 | 162 | 5907 | 5332 | 717 | 1269 | 248 | 22 | 203 | 686 | 109 | 17 | 453 | 1387 | .238 | .303 | .407 | .710 | 93 | 2170 | 105 | 64 | 20 | 36 | 18 | 969 |
| Colorado Rockies | 45 | 28.1 | 4.59 | 161 | 6007 | 5374 | 739 | 1338 | 275 | 34 | 182 | 709 | 76 | 23 | 491 | 1356 | .249 | .317 | .414 | .731 | 87 | 2227 | 98 | 58 | 48 | 36 | 24 | 1050 |
| Detroit Tigers | 49 | 28.1 | 4.30 | 162 | 5979 | 5376 | 697 | 1299 | 236 | 37 | 179 | 675 | 88 | 25 | 490 | 1514 | .242 | .308 | .399 | .707 | 97 | 2146 | 113 | 44 | 17 | 50 | 8 | 1006 |
| Houston Astros | 52 | 28.9 | 5.33 | 162 | 6291 | 5593 | 863 | 1496 | 299 | 14 | 221 | 834 | 53 | 16 | 569 | 1222 | .267 | .339 | .444 | .783 | 113 | 2486 | 136 | 64 | 9 | 54 | 25 | 1134 |
| Kansas City Royals | 48 | 29.3 | 4.23 | 162 | 5993 | 5427 | 686 | 1349 | 251 | 29 | 163 | 647 | 124 | 33 | 421 | 1258 | .249 | .306 | .396 | .702 | 88 | 2147 | 100 | 55 | 31 | 52 | 8 | 1036 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 64 | 29.2 | 4.46 | 162 | 6016 | 5437 | 723 | 1331 | 265 | 23 | 190 | 691 | 79 | 26 | 464 | 1394 | .245 | .310 | .407 | .717 | 94 | 2212 | 107 | 59 | 30 | 25 | 35 | 1015 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 61 | 29.2 | 5.12 | 162 | 6239 | 5445 | 830 | 1330 | 247 | 24 | 237 | 799 | 65 | 17 | 613 | 1408 | .244 | .330 | .429 | .759 | 103 | 2336 | 96 | 104 | 32 | 45 | 36 | 1139 |
| Miami Marlins | 61 | 28.2 | 3.85 | 162 | 5929 | 5348 | 623 | 1244 | 226 | 23 | 158 | 594 | 106 | 29 | 450 | 1553 | .233 | .298 | .372 | .671 | 82 | 1990 | 95 | 65 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 1020 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 61 | 28.7 | 4.56 | 162 | 6099 | 5362 | 738 | 1251 | 255 | 18 | 194 | 700 | 82 | 21 | 586 | 1465 | .233 | .317 | .396 | .713 | 91 | 2124 | 102 | 88 | 25 | 35 | 26 | 1088 |
| Minnesota Twins | 57 | 28.3 | 4.50 | 162 | 6078 | 5431 | 729 | 1311 | 271 | 17 | 228 | 690 | 54 | 15 | 525 | 1405 | .241 | .314 | .423 | .738 | 103 | 2300 | 122 | 70 | 7 | 42 | 17 | 1063 |
| New York Mets | 64 | 28.2 | 3.93 | 162 | 5856 | 5210 | 636 | 1243 | 228 | 18 | 176 | 604 | 54 | 26 | 495 | 1392 | .239 | .315 | .391 | .705 | 94 | 2035 | 123 | 94 | 34 | 23 | 25 | 1073 |
| New York Yankees | 59 | 29.3 | 4.39 | 162 | 6060 | 5331 | 711 | 1266 | 213 | 12 | 222 | 666 | 63 | 18 | 621 | 1482 | .237 | .322 | .407 | .729 | 100 | 2169 | 154 | 63 | 10 | 34 | 14 | 1073 |
| Oakland Athletics | 50 | 30.1 | 4.59 | 162 | 6104 | 5395 | 743 | 1284 | 271 | 19 | 199 | 698 | 88 | 20 | 545 | 1349 | .238 | .317 | .406 | .723 | 102 | 2190 | 99 | 98 | 17 | 49 | 17 | 1069 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 55 | 29.1 | 4.53 | 162 | 6089 | 5366 | 734 | 1288 | 262 | 24 | 198 | 700 | 77 | 19 | 564 | 1402 | .240 | .318 | .408 | .726 | 95 | 2192 | 103 | 67 | 47 | 43 | 37 | 1095 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 64 | 27.5 | 3.76 | 162 | 5983 | 5336 | 609 | 1261 | 240 | 35 | 124 | 570 | 60 | 30 | 529 | 1328 | .236 | .309 | .364 | .673 | 83 | 1943 | 102 | 49 | 31 | 37 | 24 | 1116 |
| San Diego Padres | 54 | 28.0 | 4.50 | 162 | 6119 | 5384 | 729 | 1305 | 273 | 21 | 180 | 695 | 110 | 39 | 586 | 1324 | .242 | .321 | .401 | .722 | 101 | 2160 | 121 | 61 | 36 | 46 | 42 | 1095 |
| Seattle Mariners | 63 | 27.0 | 4.30 | 162 | 6010 | 5355 | 697 | 1209 | 233 | 11 | 199 | 673 | 64 | 24 | 535 | 1492 | .226 | .303 | .385 | .688 | 92 | 2061 | 92 | 72 | 9 | 36 | 8 | 1012 |
| San Francisco Giants | 54 | 30.6 | 4.96 | 162 | 6196 | 5462 | 804 | 1360 | 271 | 25 | 241 | 768 | 66 | 14 | 602 | 1461 | .249 | .329 | .440 | .769 | 107 | 2404 | 117 | 64 | 36 | 30 | 45 | 1109 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 51 | 28.5 | 4.36 | 162 | 6001 | 5351 | 706 | 1303 | 261 | 22 | 198 | 678 | 89 | 22 | 478 | 1341 | .244 | .313 | .412 | .725 | 101 | 2202 | 99 | 86 | 40 | 44 | 32 | 1070 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 61 | 27.7 | 5.29 | 162 | 6213 | 5507 | 857 | 1336 | 288 | 36 | 222 | 810 | 88 | 42 | 585 | 1542 | .243 | .321 | .429 | .750 | 112 | 2362 | 75 | 72 | 6 | 41 | 27 | 1056 |
| Texas Rangers | 54 | 26.8 | 3.86 | 162 | 5943 | 5405 | 625 | 1254 | 225 | 24 | 167 | 598 | 106 | 29 | 433 | 1381 | .232 | .294 | .375 | .670 | 84 | 2028 | 113 | 58 | 16 | 31 | 10 | 982 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 62 | 26.8 | 5.22 | 162 | 6070 | 5476 | 846 | 1455 | 285 | 13 | 262 | 816 | 81 | 20 | 496 | 1218 | .266 | .330 | .466 | .797 | 115 | 2552 | 112 | 51 | 10 | 35 | 14 | 1039 |
| Washington Nationals | 60 | 28.7 | 4.47 | 162 | 6113 | 5385 | 724 | 1388 | 272 | 20 | 182 | 686 | 56 | 26 | 573 | 1303 | .258 | .337 | .417 | .754 | 107 | 2246 | 158 | 84 | 38 | 31 | 43 | 1168 |
| League Average | 50 | 28.4 | 4.53 | 162 | 6061 | 5398 | 734 | 1316 | 262 | 22 | 198 | 700 | 74 | 24 | 526 | 1405 | .244 | .317 | .411 | .728 | 97 | 2217 | 111 | 70 | 26 | 38 | 23 | 1065 |
| 1508 | 28.4 | 4.53 | 4858 | 181818 | 161941 | 22010 | 39484 | 7863 | 671 | 5944 | 20993 | 2213 | 711 | 15794 | 42145 | .244 | .317 | .411 | .728 | 97 | 66521 | 3328 | 2112 | 766 | 1143 | 703 | 31963 | |
| Tm | Bat | BatAge | R/G | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | LOB |
More 2021 Major League Baseball Pages
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MLB, MLBPA Agree to 7-Inning Doubleheaders, Extra-Inning Rule for 2021
Associated Press photographer Tony Gutierrez There has been an agreement reached between Major League Baseball and its Players Association about health and safety procedures for the next season. MLB has officially revealed its health and safety regulations for the 2021 season, including on-field restrictions and roster information, via Mark [email protected] FeinsandMLB: Sherman, a reporter for the New York Post The news was first revealed on Monday by a source. The agreement calls for seven-inning doubleheaders, similar to those played during the 2020 season.
- There will not be a universal designated hitter this season, as there was the previous year.
- It should be noted that each side will be permitted to field a maximum of five taxi-squad players.
- It wasn’t until June 23 that the Major League Baseball Players Association announced that the two parties had reached an agreement on a 60-game season.
- When it came to this year’s deal, Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports pointed out that the union was in support of the universal designated hitter, but the league was opposed.
- It’s possible that the union would seek to broaden the DH regulation since it would result in additional employment possibilities being available.
- On-field masks will not be necessary for any of the players in the game.
- When the season gets off, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be looking to defend their World Series title, which they won in six games against the Tampa Bay Rays last year in Los Angeles.
Explaining the MLB Pace-of-Play, Double Headers and More Rule Changes for 2021
- Photograph by Gene J. Puskar for the Associated Press Baseball has returned. Spring training is in its closing stages, and the commencement of the regular season’s 162-game schedule on April 1 signals the beginning of the season’s final stretch. Because of the coronavirus epidemic that occurred last year, the season was significantly shorter. It also instituted a host of rule modifications aimed at speeding up games and reducing wear and tear on players who had to wait months for the season to get underway. Some of those adjustments will be carried over to the extended 2021 season, while others were dropped from the schedule. Examine the rule modifications that will remain in effect, as well as the ones that were abandoned, and what the league is doing to crack down on pitchers.
- Associated Press photographer Laurence Kesterson Congratulations to all of the bullpen pitchers who will be called upon to take the mound in extra innings in 2021. Every extra-inning game will include a runner on second base to begin each half inning, which means they will be under great pressure from the very first pitch. According to the Associated Press, the rule, which was implemented last year, was effective in exactly the way it was intended: “78 games went into extra innings last season, with the longest games by innings being a pair of 13-inning contests at Houston, won by the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 29 and by the Oakland Athletics on August 7 respectively. Since 1901, there has been at least one game that lasted 15 innings or more in every season.” There will be no marathon games this season, unless you chance to be attending an extremely arduous nine-inning contest like last year’s postseason matchup between the Yankees and Indians, in which case you should prepare yourself (arecordfour hours, 50 minutes). In extra innings, the tie-breaking runs will not be nearly as difficult to come by.
- Associated Press photographer Jed Jacobsohn The second significant carryover from 2020 to 2021 is that when two teams are required to play a doubleheader, both games will be limited to seven innings each. This regulation was implemented in order to assist with all of the COVID-19-related postponements that occurred during the 2020 season. Even while it is unclear whether the MLB will have to deal with a comparable number of doubleheaders in the following season, the organization has obviously decided that it is best to be cautious than sorry in this situation. During the previous season, the modification wasn’t put into effect until about a week into the season. With the seven-inning doubleheaders set to begin immediately this season, the league is not playing any games by halves this year. Some gamers appear to be quite OK with this. “I believe that the seven-inning and runner-on-second regulations will assist any teams in making up for lost time during a season that may be delayed by COVID,” Arizona catcher Stephen Vogt stated in a text message to the Associated Press. “I’d prefer to get back to classic baseball as soon as possible, but I think they’ll be OK for the 2021 season.” If teams begin to suffer a slew of injuries, this rule may prove to be quite beneficial. The normal cycles of professional athletes have been interrupted for more than a year, and this year’s 162-game schedule, which follows last year’s 60-game sprint, may begin to wear on players’ bodies. A doubleheader on the schedule will not appear to be nearly as difficult.
- Associated Press photographer Charlie Riedel Pitchers should be on their toes for the next season in 2021. Officials from the league will apparently be on the lookout for cheats on the pitch, and they will employ a variety of ways to do so. As reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan in a series of tweets, the league intends to “expand surveillance by compliance officials, utilize a third-party lab to analyze baseballs pulled out of play, and undertake more spin-rate study.” ESPN’s Jesse Rogers went on to detail how the league plans to execute some of these reforms, including: It may be necessary for the league to analyze whether a pitcher’s “normal” spin rate (measured in revolutions per minute) has increased dramatically. Following the removal of balls from play — both at random and in priority order if they show evidence of foreign substances — the balls will be examined by an independent laboratory, the document states. When a ball is taken out of play, it will be tracked back to the person who was pitching at the time.” This isn’t a rule change in the traditional sense—doctoring a baseball has been prohibited for decades—but rather a shift in methods and enforcement. Nonetheless, it is a significant shift that has the potential to have a significant influence on the way the game is played. If a pitcher is found to be guilty of a crime, he or she may enjoy a breakout season, or a club could be left without a critical cog in the rotation for the rest of the season.
- Associated Press photographer John Bazemore It is expected that designated hitters such as Nelson Cruz (above) and Jorge Soler would have less competition at their positions this season. For National League pitchers, it’s back to the batter’s box, thanks to the league’s decision to repeal the universal designated hitter rule that was implemented for the 2020 season. The position of designated hitter has long been a source of controversy among baseball fans. For at least one season, the DH had the upper hand. According to MLB.com, there is still a possibility that the league and players’ association may make a modification, but with the start of the regular season just a few weeks away, it is improbable. There will be no more pitchers entering the game to lay down sacrifice bunts or jog out weak grounders, which will disappoint those who had hoped for it. Purists who feel that in order to be a full-fledged ballplayer, you must be out in the field will be pleased with this. Games between National League and American League clubs will push the visiting team to change their lineups and strategy once more. The revival of these arguments is a positive development. It implies that baseball is almost back on the schedule.
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