Starting next season, Major League Baseball will implement a new three-batter minimum rule designed to cut down on the number of pitching changes and improve the pace of play during games. From MLB.com, the new rule “requires pitchers to either face a minimum of three batters in an appearance or pitch to the end of a half-inning, with exceptions for injuries and illnesses.”
At its core, the new rule will aim to improve the pace of play in baseball, although to what extent is still to be determined. It is only one factor among the many on the issue.