World Series extra innings rules, explained: How the MLB postseason format works vs. regular season

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By and large, baseball fans have often been among the most averse to change. Baseball is one of the oldest sports in North America, and its basic rules and traditions have not gone through much change.

One such rule that has split fans is the extra-inning ghost runner rule. In 2020, all games that went to extra innings during the regular season had a runner put on second to begin every half inning. By giving a team a runner in scoring position, fans opposing the rule viewed it as adverse to the spirit of the game.

If there’s one thing the rule has done, however, it is lead to a drastic decrease in late games. In 2019, there were 210 games that went to the 11th inning or later. That number went down every year thereafter, dropping drastically to 102 in 2021, 100 in 2022 and 90 in 2023.

The shorter games don’t mean baseball fans have all loved the new rule, even if it has meant that there are no longer games that appear to have no end in sight.

Has the divisive rule made an appearance in the MLB postseason? Here’s what you need to know.

MORE: The longest games in World Series history

MLB extra inning rules for World Series

There are some rules that don’t change between the first nine innings and extra innings. There is still a pitch clock that impacts batters and pitchers. Players are still only allowed a certain allotment of mound visits and disengagements. 

One rule that doesn’t make the transition to the playoffs and the World Series is the ghost runner. When teams go to extra innings, there will be no runner starting the half-inning on second base. Instead, all batters will have to earn their way on to the bases.

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Is there an extra inning runner in World Series?

There is no ghost runner in the World Series. Just like pre-pandemic days, teams will start every inning with the bases empty. 

MORE: Which teams have won the most World Series?

How many innings in baseball?

Baseball games typically last only nine innings, though if the teams are tied after nine, the game will go to a 10th inning. From there, the game will have as many innings as it takes until one team comes out of an inning with the lead.

Unlike the NFL, there are no ties. Baseball games are always played until there is a winner.

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Longest games in World Series history

World Series games don’t exactly have a long history of running into the late hours of the day. Only five times has a game lasted more than 12 innings.

The longest World Series game ever came back in 2018, when the Red Sox and Dodgers went 18 innings. That game lasted a whopping seven hours and 20 minutes. There were a total of 18 pitchers used in the game, and did not end until Max Muncy hit a walk-off home run off Nathan Eovaldi in the bottom of the 18th. The Blue Jays and Dodgers also went to 18 innings in 2025, but their time played did not quite match the Red Sox-Dodgers matchup from 2018. 

Here’s a look at every World Series game that has lasted at least 12 innings.

* – Game 1 of the 1907 World Series was called a tie due to darkness 

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