MLB Discussing Minimum Innings Requirement For Starting Pitchers

Major League Baseball is not done tinkering with the rules of the game.

The league's pitch clock has generally been a success, lowering game times significantly and helping increase pace of play. Bigger bases, the infield shift ban, and pickoff rules were also introduced to encourage more offense and action. Yes, stolen bases are up, but offense has dropped again in 2024 thanks to the quality and depth of modern pitching staffs.

One of the league's remaining issues though, also revolves around the usage and obvious decline of starting pitching in the modern game. And baseball is reportedly exploring a "solution" to that frustrating problem.

In prior generations, starting pitchers routinely pitched complete games, or deep into games. In 1995, the top three starters finished 25 games on their own. This season though, there's been just 24 complete games, by the entire league.

Rob Manfred and the rest of the league have an idea of how to handle it: force pitchers to stay on the mound later into games. A new ESPN report has confirmed that the league's exploring a potential six-inning minimum for starters, with the goal of reducing injuries and increasing action.

"We are interested in increasing the amount of action in the game, restoring the prominence of the starting pitcher and reducing the prevalence of pitching injuries," an MLB official confirmed to ESPN. "There are a whole host of options in addressing those issues."

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23:  Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees heads into the dugout in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

There's no question that the rise of the bullpen game