{"id":2033,"date":"2026-08-10T13:52:54","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T19:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/?p=2033"},"modified":"2026-08-10T13:52:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T19:52:56","slug":"how-long-are-blue-jays-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/sports-betting-and-news\/how-long-are-blue-jays-games\/","title":{"rendered":"How long are Blue Jays games?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a world of increasingly shorter attention spans and a whole lot more competition for eyeballs, pace of play had long been a problem for Major League Baseball heading into the second decade of the 21st century. But thanks to an increasingly radical set of rules implemented during the past decade or so, game times have dropped enormously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s not only made it more likely that younger viewers get to the end of games, it&#8217;s made the whole ballpark experience better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How MLB reduced its game times<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2015<\/strong>&nbsp;A physical time clock is added to MLB stadiums. It limits times between innings and during pitching changes. Batters must also keep at least one foot in the box between pitches.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2016<\/strong>&nbsp;A 30-second time limit is set for mound visits.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2018<\/strong>&nbsp;A maximum of six mound visits per nine-inning game is instituted and stricter countdown timers are used between innings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2019<\/strong>&nbsp;Mound visits are reduced to five per nine innings and the time between innings is set at two minutes for national and local broadcasts.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2020<\/strong>&nbsp;During Covid, a temporary rule starts every extra inning with a runner on 2nd base. It\u2019s made permanent in 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2023<\/strong>&nbsp;A universal pitch clock is implemented. Pitchers have 15 seconds to begin their motion with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on base. A strict 30-second timer is also established for the time between batters. Pitchers are also allowed just two &#8220;disengagements&#8221; (step-offs or pickoff attempts) per plate appearance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2024<\/strong>&nbsp;The pitch clock is shortened, reducing the timer with runners on base to 18 seconds. Mound visits are also again reduced to four per nine innings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pitch clock dramatically changed the game. Batters have to be in the box and ready with eight seconds to go with balls and strikes used as penalties for pitchers and batters who don\u2019t comply. The clock reduced average game time (ATG) by nearly half an hour. In 2026, the ATG across MLB is two hours, 44 minutes; in 2021 it was 3:10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto;\">\n  <canvas id=\"mlbGameTimeChart\"><\/canvas>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- Load Chart.js -->\n<script src=\"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/npm\/chart.js\"><\/script>\n\n<script>\n  document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() {\n    const ctx = document.getElementById('mlbGameTimeChart').getContext('2d');\n    \n    \/\/ Data (Total minutes for calculation)\n    const years = ['2014', '2015', '2016', '2017', '2018', '2019', '2020', '2021', '2022', '2023', '2024', '2025', '2026'];\n    const minutes = [182, 176, 180, 185, 180, 185, 187, 190, 184, 160, 156, 158, 164];\n\n    new Chart(ctx, {\n      type: 'line',\n      data: {\n        labels: years,\n        datasets: [{\n          label: 'Average Game Time',\n          data: minutes,\n          borderColor: '#0000ff',\n          backgroundColor: '#0000ff',\n          borderWidth: 2,\n          pointRadius: 5,\n          pointHoverRadius: 7,\n          fill: false,\n          tension: 0.1\n        }]\n      },\n      options: {\n        responsive: true,\n        plugins: {\n          title: {\n            display: true,\n            text: 'Average MLB Game Time (2014 - 2026)',\n            font: {\n              size: 18\n            }\n          },\n          tooltip: {\n            callbacks: {\n              label: function(context) {\n                let totalMins = context.raw;\n                let h = Math.floor(totalMins \/ 60);\n                let m = totalMins % 60;\n                let mStr = m < 10 ? '0' + m : m;\n                return ` Time: ${h}:${mStr}`;\n              }\n            }\n          }\n        },\n        scales: {\n          y: {\n            title: {\n              display: true,\n              text: 'Average Game Time',\n              font: {\n                size: 14\n              }\n            },\n            ticks: {\n              \/\/ Format the y-axis labels as H:MM\n              callback: function(value) {\n                let h = Math.floor(value \/ 60);\n                let m = value % 60;\n                let mStr = m < 10 ? '0' + m : m;\n                return h + ':' + mStr;\n              }\n            }\n          },\n          x: {\n            title: {\n              display: true,\n              text: 'Year',\n              font: {\n                size: 14\n              }\n            }\n          }\n        }\n      }\n    });\n  });\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to bet on MLB<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tooniebet.ca\/ca\/login\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Log in<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tooniebet.ca\/ca\/registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">register<\/a>\u00a0at ToonieBet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/tooniebet.ca\/ca\/sport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sportsbook<\/a>&nbsp;&gt; baseball &gt; MLB.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bet on games, player props, build SGPs or bet live.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to live bet MLB<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Navigate to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/tooniebet.ca\/ca\/live-betting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">live sports page<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow the game trackers for real-time odds and stats.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>So, how long are Blue Jays games?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This season, no team is averaging more than 2:49 per game, with the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves under 2:40. The&nbsp;<strong>Toronto Blue Jays<\/strong>&nbsp;average game time is 2:44, pretty much smack dab in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through 119 games in 2026, Jays\u2019 longest game of the season was a 3:53, 11-inning \u201cmarathon\u201d 7-5 win against the Phillies on August 8. In contrast, their shortest was a 2:06, 1-0 win over the White Sox on July 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>2026 MLB time-per-game rankings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>RANK<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>TEAM<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>ATG<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Tampa Bay Rays<\/td><td>2:37<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Atlanta Braves<\/td><td>2:39<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Kansas City Royals<\/td><td>2:40<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>Boston Red Sox<\/td><td>2:41<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5<\/td><td>San Francisco Giants<\/td><td>2:41<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td>Seattle Mariners<\/td><td>2:41<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7<\/td><td>Detroit Tigers<\/td><td>2:42<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8<\/td><td>Cleveland Guardians<\/td><td>2:43<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9<\/td><td>Los Angeles Dodgers<\/td><td>2:43<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10<\/td><td>Texas Rangers<\/td><td>2:43<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11<\/td><td>Arizona Diamondbacks<\/td><td>2:44<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>12<\/td><td>Miami Marlins<\/td><td>2:44<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>13<\/td><td>Philadelphia Phillies<\/td><td>2:44<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>14<\/td><td>Toronto Blue Jays<\/td><td>2:44<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>15<\/td><td>Chicago White Sox<\/td><td>2:45<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>16<\/td><td>Cincinnati Reds<\/td><td>2:45<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>17<\/td><td>Colorado Rockies<\/td><td>2:45<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>18<\/td><td>Minnesota Twins<\/td><td>2:45<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>19<\/td><td>San Diego Padres<\/td><td>2:45<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>20<\/td><td>Baltimore Orioles<\/td><td>2:46<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>21<\/td><td>Los Angeles Angels<\/td><td>2:46<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>22<\/td><td>Milwaukee Brewers<\/td><td>2:46<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>23<\/td><td>New York Mets<\/td><td>2:46<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>24<\/td><td>St. Louis Cardinals<\/td><td>2:46<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>25<\/td><td>Athletics<\/td><td>2:47<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>26<\/td><td>Chicago Cubs<\/td><td>2:47<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>27<\/td><td>Houston Astros<\/td><td>2:47<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>28<\/td><td>Washington Nationals<\/td><td>2:47<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>29<\/td><td>New York Yankees<\/td><td>2:49<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30<\/td><td>Pittsburgh Pirates<\/td><td>2:49<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Interested in betting on MLB, but not sure where to start?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/sports-betting-and-news\/how-does-sports-betting-work\/\">walks you through the sportsbook<\/a>, explaining odds, terms, bet types, tactics and more. Consider it your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/tooniebet.ca\/ca\/sport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sports betting<\/a>&nbsp;lineup card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Feature image courtesy THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Paige Taylor.<br>Game duration statistics courtesy\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/baseball-reference.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Baseball-Reference.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tooniebet.ca\/ca\/terms\/responsible-gaming\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"856\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Responsible-Gaming-Banner-Sports.webp\" alt=\"ToonieBet is invested in responsible gaming. Please play safe.\" class=\"wp-image-1232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Responsible-Gaming-Banner-Sports.webp 856w, https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Responsible-Gaming-Banner-Sports-300x70.webp 300w, https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Responsible-Gaming-Banner-Sports-768x179.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 856px) 100vw, 856px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">This content is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute betting advice, financial advice, or a recommendation to place any wager. Odds are subject to change. Online wagering involves risk, and there is no guarantee of success or profit. For Ontario residents, participation in regulated online gaming is restricted to individuals 19 years of age or older. Please play responsibly. If gambling is no longer fun or may be causing harm, support is available through recognized gambling resources like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/connexontario.ca\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ConnexOntario<\/a>. Terms and conditions apply where applicable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a world of increasingly shorter attention spans and a whole lot more competition for eyeballs, pace of play had long been a problem for Major League Baseball heading into the second decade of the 21st century. But thanks to an increasingly radical set of rules implemented during the past decade or so, game times [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2034,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[95,64],"tags":[102,96],"class_list":["post-2033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-baseball","category-sports-betting-and-news","tag-baseball","tag-mlb"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2033"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2036,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2033\/revisions\/2036"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}