As a result of the MLB lockout shortening spring training and pushing the start of the regular season back by a week, the league and the Player’s Association agreed to let teams carry two extra pitchers on their rosters to start the season, which is another way of saying that rosters were expanded to 28 players.
On May 1, that is going to change, and rosters are going to be cut back down to 26 players.
However, MLB and MLBPA have agreed on a slight tweak for the rule.
Rosters will still but cut back down to 26, but teams will still be allowed to carry one extra pitcher on their rosters until May 30.
In a standard season, 13 is the maximum number of pitchers a team can carry on their roster.
Until May 30, that number will be 14.
The MLB rosters will still be lowered back from 28 players to 26 players on May 2, but teams will be permitted to carry 14 pitchers instead of 13 until May 30. https://t.co/cWUYNQJSFS
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 26, 2022
Reinforcements
This is a good move by MLB.
Pitchers were the ones who were affected the most by the lockout and the truncated spring training period.
This is a good measure to take in order to let teams have an extra arm in case somebody gets hurt, which is the risk pitchers are running after the lockout put their offseason plans on hold.
You can never have too much pitching, but this rule tweak will come in handy for all teams involved.
Pitching injuries are the toughest injuries to come back from and it’s important that teams have extra reinforcements available in the event that something like that happens.
Pitching depth is paramount in baseball.
Without pitching depth, a team can really begin to scuffle.
This is a good preventative measure in order to stop that from happening, at least for the time being.
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