13 Shortest MLB Games Ever

It’s inevitable that the shortest MLB games of the 21st century were generally very low-scoring. These contests will all have hit the under on their run total in MLB betting. Nine-inning games only get done quickly if there are very few baserunners, and pitchers willing to attack the strike zone.

Just as certain teams are likely to drag the game out, others tend to get on with the action, whether through taking fewer pitches or having efficient pitchers on their staff. When it comes to online sports betting, identifying the games likely to be shorter in duration can help to inform bets, given the correlation between low offensive production and quick games. 

Here are the shortest MLB games in the 21st century.

13 Shortest MLB Games Ever

1. Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners, 1 hour 39 minutes

Early in the 2005 season, the Chicago White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 behind a complete-game masterpiece from Mark Buehrle. Online sportsbooks priced the ChiSox as one of the World Series favourites in 2005, and the South Siders lived up to the billing by beating the Houston Astros in the Fall Classic. 

There were just seven total hits and no pitching changes in this game. Buehrle threw 106 pitches on his way to 12 strikeouts, and Paul Konerko’s two solo homers were enough to win the game for the White Sox.

2. Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals, 1 hour 41 minutes

In July 2002, José Lima allowed just two hits in seven innings before handing over the game to the bullpen. Óscar Henríquez and Juan Acevedo completed the shutout.

Randall Simon’s homer and RBIs for Shane Halter and Craig Paquette were enough to give the Tigers a 3-0 win in well under two hours.  

T-3. Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland, 1 hour 44 minutes

This is the most well-known game on this list. Armando Galarraga pitched 8.2 perfect innings against Cleveland in June 2010. He looked like he had completed the 21st perfect game in MLB history when he got Jason Donald to hit a ground ball. 

Unfortunately, first base umpire Joe Joyce blew the call, wrongly ruling Donald safe. Galarraga got the next hitter out on another grounder to complete a rapid one-hit shutout, but Joyce’s mistake cost him what would have been the third perfecto of the 2010 season. 

T-3. Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals, 1 hour 44 minutes

Two of the best pitchers of the 21st century matched up at Rogers Centre in May 2005. Zack Greinke and Roy Halladay pitched eight and nine innings, respectively. 

Toronto were 3-1 winners with all four of the runs scored in the first three innings. Mike Sweeney and Shea Hillenbrand both homered. 

T-5. Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics, 1 hour 47 minutes

Jarrod Washburn and Joe Blanton each went nine innings when the Seattle Mariners hosted the Oakland Athletics in April 2007.

Both pitchers were very efficient, taking 104 and 105 pitches, respectively, to get 27 outs. Seattle were 2-0 winners thanks to RBI knocks from José Guillén and Kenji Johjima. 

T-5. Pittsburgh Pirates vs Arizona Diamondbacks, 1 hour 47 minutes

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Josh Fogg outdueled Hall of Famer Randy Johnson as the Pirates beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 in August 2004.

Jack Wilson and Jason Bay hit back-to-back homers off Johnson in the seventh to give the Pirates the lead late. 

7. Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds, 1 hour 48 minutes

Jon Lieber allowed just one hit to the Cincinnati Reds in his complete-game gem in May 2001. Lieber had just two strikeouts in an ultra-efficient outing – he needed just 78 pitches to get all 27 outs.

The Chicago Cubs scored two of their three runs in the first two innings. 

T-8. Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians, 1 hour 49 minutes

Tanner Houck was the star of the show when the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 in April 2024. Striking out nine and allowing just three hits, Houck threw just 96 pitches in his complete-game shutout.

A shutout from Tanner Houck helps secure the W for the @RedSox! pic.twitter.com/yocTBlgep2

— MLB (@MLB) April 18, 2024

This performance was made even more impressive given that the Guardians were 12-5 coming into this game, and no Red Sox starter had even made it into the seventh inning through the first month of the campaign. 

T-8. Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners, 1 hour 49 minutes

The Seattle Mariners had no answer for Justin Duchscherer in July 2008. Oakland scored a run off Carlos Silva in each of the first two innings, then Duchscherer dominated the Mariners.

He threw 105 pitches, allowing just two hits in a majestic complete-game performance. Silva pitched all eight innings for the Mariners but allowed seven hits and two earned runs. 

T-8. Oakland Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins, 1 hour 49 minutes

Blanton and Silva both make multiple appearances on this list. Silva was again on the losing side, after throwing eight strong innings for the Minnesota Twins against the Oakland Athletics in June 2007. 

With six strikeouts en route to a shutout, Blanton tamed the Minnesota lineup and got the better of Silva. 

T-8. San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 hour 49 minutes

The San Francisco Giants took a 2-1 lead in the third inning, and that was enough for a win over the Pirates in May 2005. 

Brett Tomko, who had a 92 ERA+ for his career, gave up one run in nine innings, with seven strikeouts and 16 ground balls. 

T-8. Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox, 1 hour 49 minutes

This is the highest-scoring game on the list with the Oakland Athletics managing to score six runs and still keep the game well under two hours. 

Mark Ellis, Erubiel Durazo, Eric Byrnes, and Terrence Long did the damage at the plate for the A’s. Mark Mulder pitched a shutout with four strikeouts.

T-8. Chicago Cubs vs. St Louis Cardinals, 1 hour 49 minutes

There were plenty of big names on the lineup cards when the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals met in June 2002. Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, Sammy Sosa, and Fred McGriff were largely shut down by some exceptional pitching, as Woody Williams hurled seven strong frames and Jon Lieber allowed just one run in his complete-game outing.

The Cubs won 2-1 thanks to runs in the fifth and seventh innings. McGriff recorded both of the Cubs’ RBIs with solo homers off Williams.