Report: MLB discussing rule change that requires starting pitchers to throw six innings

As baseball has continued to trend in the direction of having pitchers put their all into every pitch, prioritizing getting the most out of their outing, rather than working deep into games, MLB is looking to bring back the value of starting pitching.

According to a report by ESPN's Jesse Rogers on Thursday, the league has discussed multiple rule changes, including limiting the size of pitching staffs and tying the starting pitching to the designated hitter. However, one potential rule change stood out, and that is requiring starting pitchers to throw at least six innings every start.

"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," one MLB official told Rogers. "There are a whole host of options in addressing those issues."

MLB acknowledged that there would have to be exceptions to the rule and has discussed situations in which a pitcher would be allowed to leave the game before completing six innings.

Some examples given by Rogers were: The starter throws 100 pitches, gives up four or more earned runs or is injured — with the stipulation that he would have to go on the injured list to avoid manipulation of that rule.

In 2024, starting pitchers are averaging 5.25 innings per start, a total that stood just a hair under six innings in 2014.

So, in theory, by extending a pitcher's time on the mound, MLB would force teams and players to shift the way they operate. Rather than rearing back to throw as hard as they can on each pitch, aiming to out-stuff opposing hitters, hurlers would have to reign in their offerings, saving their arms for the required six innings of work.

"You would have to push command over stuff," Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen told Rogers. "Pushing (pitching to) contact would be the biggest thing to prepare guys to throw six innings on a consistent basis.

"There would have to be some pullback on velocity, though that's a tough thing, because that's where you get outs."

Pitches have continued to push the envelope when it comes to velocity, with the average fastball clocking in at 93.3 m.p.h in 2024, up from 92.0 in 2014.

By forcing pitchers to change how they pitch and approach their training, there is hope that the recent rash of injuries across baseball would be slowed as players pace themselves to record 18 or more outs every time they take the mound.

As MLB did with its recent addition of the pitch clock, any potential rule change would be tested in the minors before being implemented in the big leagues. So while the change wouldn't likely arrive on the national stage in the next few years, the implementation at the minor league level would allow teams to adjust their training on an organization-wide basis and have pitchers adjusted to the rule by the time it might arrive in the majors.

Baseball has clearly moved past the days of the complete game, but with rule changes like the six-inning minimum potentially on the horizon, the starting pitcher might be back in vogue before we know it.