MLB considers rule changes for pitcher durability

Major League Baseball (MLB) has made changes to its rules to speed up games and boost base stealing. However, there’s growing concern about the decline in performance from starting pitchers. Last season, only four pitchers threw over 200 innings, a major drop from 2014 when there were 34. The trend is alarming for fans who remember legendary pitchers dominating games. In 2014, all 30 teams had starters who pitched over 900 innings. Last year, only four did so, with Seattle leading at 942 2/3 innings. Many believe the game’s emphasis on strong bullpens has contributed to the shorter outings by starters. This has raised questions about how to encourage pitchers to go deeper into games. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggests rule changes may be necessary. His team relied heavily on their bullpen during their World Series run. Players like Nathan Eovaldi agree that bullpens have evolved, allowing many pitchers to throw multiple innings rather than just closing out games. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred believes it’s too early for rule changes. Instead, the focus is on improving training methods. He acknowledges the challenge of monitoring players' practices during the offseason, which complicates any push for new rules. When considering options, past experiments showed MLB grappling with how rules could impact star players like Shohei Ohtani, who has thrived as a designated hitter. Any change that might affect fan favorites could be unpopular. Some managers propose that minor leagues should test rules that could help lengthen pitching outings. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy mentioned that younger pitchers should learn to pitch deeper into games, as it was common in the past. A recent MLB study revealed that the push for higher pitch speeds has led to more injuries among pitchers. This shift has made starting pitchers less effective over time. The number of pitchers finishing games with five or more innings has decreased significantly in both MLB and the minors. Despite these challenges, the 2024 season showed signs of improvement. Pitchers averaged 5.22 innings per start, the best since 2018, and starters began throwing more pitches per game. Even so, there's a consensus that finding ways to keep starters in the game longer could relieve pressure from bullpens. Now, MLB must find solutions to help starting pitchers regain their former stamina and presence on the field.