{
  "id": 10484420,
  "title": "MLB average game time up nearly 4 minutes to 2:42, partly because of robot umpires",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/mlb-average-game-time-up-nearly-4-minutes-to-2-42-partly-because-of",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-28T15:58:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/baseball/2026/09/28/mlb-average-game-time-up-nearly-4-minutes-to-242-partly-because-of-robot-umpires"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Major League Baseball (MLB) games have become longer, averaging 2 hours and 42 minutes per nine-inning game this season. This uptick in game time is largely due to the introduction of robot umpires. The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, which allows players to appeal umpire decisions to a computer, added 61 seconds to the average game duration. Prior to the implementation of this system, MLB's average game time was 2:40 in 2022, the lowest since 1984. The implementation of the pitch clock in 2023 further reduced game times to 2:36, but the system saw a resurgence in length in 2024, reaching 2:42 minutes.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}