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A pitch clock, bigger bases, and shift restrictions are all set to change the way we bet on baseball.
Big changes are coming to baseball in 2023. Here’s what bettors need to know about the new Major League Baseball rules.
1. The Pitch Timer
What it is:
Like the shot clock in the NBA and the play clock in the NFL, MLB’s new “Pitch Timer” is meant to speed up the game.
Pitchers will need to throw within 15 seconds with bases empty or 20 seconds with runners on. They get two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per batter. Violations count as balks.
Hitters get 1 timeout per plate appearance and must be in batter’s box with 8 seconds left. If they’re not there in time, a strike will be called.
What it means for bettors:
The MLB says limits on pickoff attempts led to a 26% increase in stolen base attempts when this system was trialed in the Minor Leagues. The pitch timer also helped reduce the length of games by 25 minutes on average.
Look for the over-under on game length to drop, and the over-under on stolen bases to rise. There have also already been strikes called on batters for violating the 8-second rule, so watch out for that.
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2. Bigger Bases
What it is:
First, second, and third base will all grow from 15” square to 18” square. As a result, 3” will be shaved off the distances between home and first and home and 3rd, while the distances from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd will each drop by 4.5”.
What it means for bettors:
Bigger bases means more room for everyone to navigate feet and gloves around the bags, meaning fewer collisions and injuries. According to the MLB, bigger bases reduced injury events near the bases by more than 13% in the Minors in 2022.
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3. Shift Restrictions
What it is:
The new rule stipulates that two infielders must be positioned on either side of 2B when a pitch is released, and all four infielders must have both feet within the infield when pitcher is on rubber.
What it means for bettors:
Shift restrictions increased batting average and decreased strikeouts in Minors while giving players more opportunity to show off their athleticism.
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