Three-Batter Minimum Ruling For MLB.

Major League Baseball has made official a rule change that many purists were dreading: Pitchers will have to face a minimum of three hitters before their team can make a pitching change.

The Official Baseball Rules have been amended to require the starting or any relief pitcher to pitch to a minimum of three batters, including the batter then at bat (or any substitute batter), until such batters are put out or reach base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire crew chief’s judgment, incapacitates him from further play as a pitcher.

September rosters will be limited to 28 players with a maximum of 14 pitchers.