How Long Is a Blue Jays Game on Average?

Just as rule changes are important to consider when evaluating MLB odds, they can also have a drastic impact on game durations. The length of a Blue Jays game has decreased considerably over the last couple of years. 

Pace of play and the duration of a game have been hot topics around baseball in recent years. Rob Manfred has been on a mission to speed the game up, but how much time needs to be set aside to watch a Blue Jays game?

How Long Is a Blue Jays Game on Average?

Toronto Blue Jays games averaged two hours and 45 minutes during the 2023 MLB season, three minutes longer than the league average of two hours and 42 minutes.

Toronto’s games averaged three hours and six minutes in 2022, which was exactly the same as the league average. 

Prior to 2023, MLB introduced the pitch clock, limited pickoff attempts, and sped-up replay reviews. The widespread use of PitchCom – a more efficient way for pitchers and catchers to communicate – has also improved the pace of play across the big leagues.

Numerous factors can influence the length of a game. High-scoring games generally take more time, simply because there are more plate appearances if teams generate a lot of baserunners. These games will also feature more pitching changes, which take up more time, even after the introduction of the three-batter minimum in 2020. 

Games that go to extra innings can go on indefinitely. Some games can go well over five hours, but these marathons have become far less frequent since the league decided to place an automatic runner on second base from the 10th inning onwards. 

Dawdling pitchers have been forced to hurry up by the pitch clock. They have 15 seconds to begin their motion when the bases are empty, and 20 seconds when there is a runner on. Batters must be ready when there are eight seconds left on the clock or they are given an automatic strike.

Longest Game in Blue Jays History

The longest game in Blue Jays history was six hours and 37 minutes against the Detroit Tigers in August 2014. The game went 19 innings, which also tied it for the longest Blue Jays game of all time by innings played. 

Toronto’s longest nine-inning game was a four-hour, 23-minute win over the Boston Red Sox in September 2020. The Jays fell 4-1 behind in the fourth inning but scored nine runs across the fifth and sixth innings. Caleb Joseph and Rowdy Tellez both homered for the Blue Jays, while the bullpen held off a late push from the Red Sox to secure a 10-8 win. 

The 6-5 win over the Tigers in 2014 was even more remarkable. Toronto fell 5-0 down after four innings with Mark Buehrle allowing nine hits in 3.1 frames. They scored two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh before tying the game up in the bottom of the ninth.

RECAP: @JoeyBats19 hits #walkoff single as @BlueJays top Tigers in 19 innings. http://t.co/EZl365o9HH pic.twitter.com/myMau3xqmw

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 11, 2014

The Blue Jays’ bullpen shut down a stacked Tigers lineup, allowing José Bautista to record the game-winning hit off Rick Porcello in the bottom of the 19th.

Toronto has played in two other 19-inning games. They lost 2-1 to Cleveland in July 2016 and lost 3-2 to the Boston Red Sox in September 2017. While the losses to Cleveland and Boston were epic, they both went under the game total provided in pre-game baseball odds. It was an offensive stalemate for a long period on both occasions.