The best pitchers in the World Series are used extensively. Madison Bumgarner was used in Games 1, 5 and 7 of the 2014 World Series. Corey Kluber was used in Games 1, 4 and 7 of the 2016 World Series. Clayton Kershaw was used in three games in the 2017 World Series.
Teams in the World Baseball Classic won't have that luxury. Facing several single-elimination games in a short span of time, pitcher management will be pivotal for the managers of each team, particularly with the rules the World Baseball Classic has instituted on pitchers and their potential usage throughout the series.
While several new Major League Baseball rules for 2023, most notably the pitch clock, will not be used in the WBC, other guidelines— pertaining particularly to pitch counts — will have a major impact on the games.
MORE:Ranking the top seven World Baseball Classic pitching rotations
What are the pitching rules around the World Baseball Classic? Here's what you need to know.
World Baseball Classic pitcher rules
Pitch counts
MLB teams have unofficial pitch counts for hurlers to make sure they aren't being overused. But the World Baseball Classic will have strict limits on how often a pitcher can throw during a game.
Pitchers will be allowed to throw progressively more and more pitchers at each round.
- First round:65 pitches
- Quarterfinal round:80 pitches
- Semifinals and championship round: 95 pitches
Pitchers can exceed the limit if they need to finish a plate appearance. Intentional walks will not count against pitch limits.
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Pitcher usage limits
The number of pitches a player throws will have an impact on how long it will be until they can pitch again. Pitchers can only throw on two consecutive days if they don't throw more than 29 pitches in a previous outing. Pitchers can never pitch on three straight days.
If a pitcher throws between 30 and 49 pitches, he would have to go at least one day between outings. More than 50 pitches, and the player must wait at least four days until he can pitch again.
And unlike in MLB, teams will not be able to use position players to pitch. There are mercy rules in place that would make sure pitchers don't have to be used too late in a blowout. If a team is leading by 15 or more runs after the completion of the fifth inning, the game can be called. If a team leads by at least 10 runs after the seventh, the game can also be called.
MORE: 2023 World Baseball Classic schedule
Three-batter minimum
MLB started enforcing a three-batter minimum in 2020 to cut down on the amount of pitching changes during a game and prevent teams from turning to left-handed and right-handed specialists to face single batters.
The World Baseball Classic won't be picking up all the new pace of play rules — coaches can have as many mound visits as they want in a game — but that one will be used. Pitchers coming in out of the bullpen will be forced to face a minimum of three consecutive batters before being removed, unless the inning comes to an end, in which case he can be removed during the inning change.
If a pitcher faces one batter in an inning, gets an out to end the frame and returns for the next inning, that pitcher would have to face at least two consecutive batters in the second frame in order to be substituted out.
MORE: MLB roster-by-roster WBC breakdown
Pitch clock
The pitch clock is coming to MLB, but it will not be impacting the World Baseball Classic. Pitchers will still have as much time as they need to throw a pitch on the mound.
MLB pitchers have spent spring getting used to the new limitations on how much time they have to throw the ball, just as hitters are getting accustomed to their own timer. But since this rule is not common internationally and drastically impacts the pace of play, it will not be enforced during the tournament.
