With September call-ups clogging bullpens, managers have an easier time making late-game pitching changes, knowing they don't have to worry about running out.
That's certain to bug Commissioner Rob Manfred, who floated the idea of restricting the use of relievers in innings or games in order to speed things up.
"I am in favor of something like that," Manfred told ESPN in July. "We've spent a ton of time on this issue in the last few months. The problem with relief pitchers is that they're so good.
"I've got nothing against relief pitchers, but they do two things to the game: The pitching changes themselves slow the game down, and our relief pitchers have become so dominant at the back end that they actually rob action out of the end of the game, the last few innings of the game.