When is a mlb game official

Major League Baseball considers a regulation game to take as little as 4 1/2 innings of play before a rain delay. If the home team is leading after 4 1/2 innings and the game is called for rain, it is considered a complete game.

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Lightning Delays
Snow Delays
Which MLB stadiums have retractable roofs?
How are rain delays determined?
How do rain delays work in baseball?
What are the kinds of weather delays in baseball?

If either team is leading after five innings and the game is called for rain, the game is considered a complete regulation game. If the game is tied at five innings and the game is called for rain, the game is suspended to be completed at a later time. Games that have not made it to 4 1/2 innings before rain ends play are replayed in entirety at a later time.

(a) A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for any of the following reasons:

(1) A curfew imposed by law;

(2) A time limit permissible under league rules; (3) Light failure, malfunction of, or unintentional operator error in employing, a mechanical or field device or equipment under the control of the home Club (e.g., a retractable roof, a tarpaulin, or other water removal equipment);

(4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on;

(5) Weather, if a regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead; or

(6) It is a regulation game that is called with the score tied; National Association Leagues may also adopt the following rules for suspended games. (If adopted by a National Association League, Rule 7.01(e) would not apply to their games.);

(7) The game has not become a regulation game (40 innings with the home team ahead, or 5 innings with the visiting Club ahead or tied);

(8) If a game is suspended before it becomes a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game shall be seven innings in length. See the exception described in Rule 7.01(a);

(9) If a game is suspended after it is a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game shall be a nine-inning game.

EXCEPTION: Optional Rules 7.02(a)(7), 7.02(a)(8), and 7.02(a)(9) for National Association Leagues shall not apply to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season. A National Association League may adopt any of Rules 7.02(a)(7), 7.02(a)(8), and 7.02(a)(9) for its post-season games.

No game called because of a curfew (Rule 7.02(a)(1), weather (Rule 7.02(a)(5), a time limit (Rule 7.02(a)(2), or with a tied score (Rule 7.02(a)(6) shall be a suspended game unless it has progressed far enough to have been a regulation game pursuant to Rule 7.01(c). A game called pursuant to Rules 7.02(a)(3) or 7.02(a)(4) shall be a suspended game at any time after it starts.

NOTE: Weather and similar conditions—Rules 7.02(a)(1) through 7.02(a)(5)—shall take precedence in determining whether a called game shall be a suspended game. If a game is halted by weather, and subsequent light failure or an intervening curfew or time limit prevents its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game. If a game is halted by light failure, and weather or field conditions prevent its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game. A game can only be considered a suspended game if stopped for any of the six reasons specified in Rule 7.02(a).

Rule 7.02(a) Comment:

The Major Leagues have determined that Rule 7.02(a) does not apply to any Wild Card, Division Series, League Championship Series or World Series games or for any additional Major League championship season game played to break a tie.

(b) A suspended game shall be resumed and completed as follows:

(1) Immediately preceding the next scheduled single game between the two Clubs on the same grounds; or

(2) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader between the two Clubs on the same grounds, if no single game remains on the schedule; or

(3) If suspended on the last scheduled date between the two Clubs in that city, transferred and played on the grounds of the opposing Club, if possible;

(A) Immediately preceding the next scheduled single game, or

(B) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader, if no single game remains on the schedule.

(4) Any suspended game that has progressed far enough to become a regulation game, but which has not been completed prior to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season shall become a called game, as follows:

(A) If one team is ahead, the team that is ahead shall be declared the winner (unless the game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead, in which case the score upon the completion of the last full inning shall stand for purposes of this Rule 7.02(b)(4); or

(B) If the score is tied, the game shall be declared a “tie game” (unless the game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to tie the game, and the home team has not retied the game, in which case the score upon the completion of the last full inning shall stand for purposes of this Rule 7.02(b)(4).

(5) Any postponed game, suspended game (that has not progressed far enough to become a regulation game), or tie game that has not been rescheduled and completed prior to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season must be played (or continued, in the case of a suspended or tie game) to a completed regulation game, if the League President determines that not playing such game might affect eligibility for the post-season and/or home-field advantage for any Wild Card or Division Series game.

Rule 7.02(b) Comment: The Major Leagues have determined that Rule 7.02(b) does not apply to any Wild Card, Division Series, League Championship Series or World Series games or for any additional Major League championship season game played to break a tie. The National Association has determined that games shall not be rescheduled and played to a completed regulation game in accordance with Rule 7.02(b)(5) for the purpose of determining eligibility or home-field advantage for the post-season. If a suspended game is to resume and no single game remains on the schedule, the National Association has determined that only a single game will be played after completing the suspended game.

(c) A suspended game shall be resumed at the exact point of suspension of the original game. The completion of a suspended game is a continuation of the original game. The lineup and batting order of both teams shall be exactly the same as the lineup and batting order at the moment of suspension, subject to the rules governing substitution. Any player may be replaced by a player who had not been in the game prior to the suspension. No player removed before the suspension may be returned to the lineup.

A player who was not with the Club when the game was suspended may be used as a substitute, even if he has taken the place of a player no longer with the Club who would not have been eligible because he had been removed from the lineup before the game was suspended.

Rule 7.02(c) Comment:

If immediately prior to the call of a suspended game, a substitute pitcher has been announced but has not retired the side or pitched until the batter becomes a base runner, such pitcher, when the suspended game is later resumed may, but is not required to start the resumed portion of the game. However, if he does not start he will be considered as having been substituted for and may not be used in that game.

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A rain delay in baseball is when a game is delayed or canceled due to inclement weather. Baseball is a sport that needs clear conditions. A wet field can be dangerous for players to run on and makes gameplay difficult. A delay can be called before a game with the start time pushed back or during the game with an indeterminate break in play.

In Major League Baseball, there is no set wait time for rain delays. Furthermore, rain delays have many nicknames both in and out of baseball and around the world. Common nicknames for rain delays include “rainout,” “washout,” and “rain stopped delay.”

In the 2020 MLB season, a new rain delay rule was introduced. An official game is recorded if the game completes the fifth inning (15 total outs per team) or if the home team is leading in the middle of the fifth inning. If rain impacts a game before it is deemed “official,” the game is suspended and will be resumed at a later date. If a game is suspended due to weather after the game is deemed “official,” the team who was leading when the game was suspended will be declared the winner. If the game was tied when it was suspended, the game will continue from the same inning at a later date.

This rule was put into place for the 2020 season on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has remained in place since. This rule is yet another instance in which Major League Baseball has adapted the game in recent years in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Following the 2021 season, this system for suspending games was ratified in the CBA between the owners and Players Association and has become a permanent fixture in Major League Baseball.

The other kinds of weather delays that can happen in baseball include lightning delays, fog delays, and snow delays.

Lightning Delays

Lightning delays are handled in a similar fashion to rain delays. There could be no rain whatsoever, but if there is lightning, a lightning delay will almost certainly be called to ensure the players’ safety.

In regards to rain delays, thunderstorm delays, and lightning delays, lightning delays are typically taken more seriously as they yield the highest risk to players.

Fog Delays

There are a few other weather-related delays that are less common but still occur throughout the season. Fog delays are an annoyance for baseball players and fans since most of the conditions are favorable, but there is low visibility. Fog delays can last for quite some time and are usually less predictable than rain delays.

Snow Delays

Towards the beginning of the season or end of the postseason, depending on where the team is located, snow delays can happen as well. These games are usually rescheduled if the snow is ongoing, rather than being waited out like many rain delays are. A famous instance of snow delays occurred in April 2007, when a snowstorm on opening day forced the Cleveland Indians (now renamed the Cleveland Guardians) to postpone their first series of games that season.

Rain delays occur quite often in baseball, but not all rain delays result in a rainout. While a rain delay is a postponement of the game for as much time as it takes for the weather to clear, a rainout is a result that effectively postpones the game until a later date. Usually, the umpires make the decision to declare a rainout after there has been over a half-hour of a rain delay. This is not a steadfast rule, as sometimes the umpires will decide to wait over an hour before declaring the game a rainout. It typically depends on whether the weather forecast looks like the rain will stop soon.

An “official game” in baseball is one where the game completes the fifth inning or reaches the middle of the fifth inning while the home team is leading. After this, the game will be final and the score will count if the game is canceled due to inclement weather. If the game is tied when it is rained out, it will be resumed from the same point at a later date.

Which MLB stadiums have retractable roofs?

Six Major League Baseball teams currently have retractable roofs in their home parks: Toronto Blue Jays’ Rogers Centre, Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field, Seattle Mariners’s T-Mobile Park, Milwaukee Brewers' American Family Field, Houston Astros' Minute Maid Park, Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field, and Miami Marlins' LoanDepot Park. Furthermore, Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field has a fixed roof.

How are rain delays determined?

It’s the umpire’s decision whether or not to proceed with the game, as they determine if the conditions are safe or not for the players. Many umpires will allow games to continue through light rain. The home team has some input as well, as it affects the fans coming to their baseball stadium.

How do rain delays work in baseball?

If the weather clears up, gameplay continues. If the rain persists during a rain delay, a game may end up being canceled, teams and fans go home. If this happens, then fans and attendees can use their current tickets or some kind of voucher as a rain check. A rain check is used to admit someone to the baseball park at a later date for no additional cost.

What are the kinds of weather delays in baseball?

Many people refer to a rain delay and a thunderstorm delay as two separate things, while other people use the terms interchangeably. Typically, a rain delay will only occur if it is near a downpour on the field. If there is light rain, the game usually continues as regularly scheduled. However, if there is thunder, the game is more likely to be delayed. This is typically a thunderstorm delay as thunder implies that a heavy storm, as well as lightning, will occur. Thick fog or heavy snow can also result in a weather delay.