The average time of a nine-inning game set a record once again this year despite Major League Baseball's efforts to improve pace.

The average was 3 hours, 10 minutes, 7 seconds for the 2021 regular season.

That was up from 3:07:46 for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and 3:05:35 in 2019.

MLB instituted a three-batter minimum for relievers in 2020, but active rosters were expanded to 28, giving managers more pitching options.