Heading into the 2023 MLB season, there wasn't a question about whether the new pitch clock would decrease the length of games. The bigger question was how prevalent the timer would be in a game.
MLB spring training games averaged 2 hours, 37 minutes this year, about in line with what minor league regular-season games averaged with a pitch clock in 2022. Although violations abounded early on, teams were down to about one per game by the end of the exhibition season.
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There were violations on Opening Day as well, including one that resulted in a strikeout and one on the basepaths, but for the most part, the most tangible effect has been on time of game.
It was immediately apparent how different things are going to be this season when Yankees vs. Giants, the day's first final, ended in 2:33. Last year's shortest Opening Day game was Guardians vs. Royals, which ended in 2:49.
Here's a look at each Opening Day game and its length, along with average time for the 15-game slate and how it compares to last season's Opening Day.
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MLB 2023 Opening Day game lengths and violations
Thursday started with Yankees vs. Giants, one of 10 afternoon games. White Sox vs. Astros has its own prime-time slot, while the day ended with four West Coast night games.
(Source: MLB.com)
| Game | Start time (ET) | Comb. runs/hits | Comb. pitches | Length | Violations |
| Giants vs. Yankees | 1:05 p.m. | 5/12 | 292 | 2:33 | 1 |
| Braves vs. Nationals | 1:05 p.m. | 9/20 | 320 | 3:07 | 1 |
| Brewers vs. Cubs | 2:12 p.m. | 4/10 | 257 | 2:21 | 1 |
| Orioles vs. Red Sox | 2:12 p.m. | 19/26 | 344 | 3:10 | 3 |
| Tigers vs. Rays | 3:10 p.m. | 4/12 | 272 | 2:14 | 0 |
| Phillies vs. Rangers | 4:09 p.m. | 18/22 | 335 | 3:04 | 0 |
| Twins vs. Royals | 4:10 p.m. | 2/12 | 283 | 2:32 | 0 |
| Pirates vs. Reds | 4:11 p.m. | 9/14 | 343 | 3:02 | 2 |
| Mets vs. Marlins | 4:13 p.m. | 8/13 | 304 | 2:42 | 1 |
| Blue Jays vs. Cardinals | 4:22 p.m. | 19/34 | 384 | 3:38 | 2 |
| White Sox vs. Astros | 7:08 p.m. | 5/15 | 286 | 2:38 | 0 |
| Rockies vs. Padres | 9:42 p.m. | 9/24 | 320 | 2:56 | 0 |
| D-backs vs. Dodgers | 10:10 p.m. | 10/16 | 272 | 2:35 | 1 |
| Guardians vs. Mariners | 10:11 p.m. | 3/11 | 248 | 2:14 | 1 |
| Angels vs. Athletics | 10:14 p.m. | 3/11 | 290 | 2:30 | 1 |
The average length of game Thursday was 2:45. As these game times show, the three-hour game is not yet behind baseball, with half of the afternoon games clocking in past that mark. The shortest games were Tigers vs. Rays and Guardians vs. Mariners at 2:14 each, while the longest was Blue Jays vs. Cardinals at 3:38 in a game that had 34 hits and 19 runs.
There were 14 pitch timer violations: eight on pitchers, five on batters (although one was caused by a baserunner) and one on catchers. Five games had no violations, while the most in one game was three (Orioles vs. Red Sox).
MORE: MLB pitch clock rules for 2023, explained
How long were Opening Day games in 2022?
Opening Day worked differently in 2022, as not every team played on the first day.
The average length of first games of the season last year was 3:17, a difference of 32 minutes through the first 15 games this year.
Just two Opening Day games in 2022 — Mariners vs. Twins and Royals vs. Guardians — came in at under three hours.
The 2022 numbers are inflated by two extra-inning games. Red Sox vs. Yankees went 11 innings while Giants vs. Marlins went 10. None of the first 11 games in 2023 went extras. Nevertheless, the difference is significant.
The average game length for the entire 2022 season was 3:06, and 3:03 for nine-inning games. It was the seventh straight year and the eighth time in nine seasons the average game length per nine was over three hours. A three-hour average had never occurred before 2014.
MLB is still very much in the data collection phase with the timer. As the process becomes more streamlined, it isn't unreasonable to think games will average closer to Minor League Baseball's 2022 average of 2:39. The more players and umpires get used to the timer, the less likely it is that they'll think about it and its impact on the game.
