⚾ Baseball rules explained
Two teams of nine take turns batting and fielding over nine innings. The batting team scores by advancing runners around four bases.
How scoring works
- Run: 1 point when a runner touches home plate
- Home run: the batter and every runner on base score
- Most runs after nine innings wins; ties go to extra innings
Key rules
- Strikes and balls
- Three strikes is a strikeout; four balls is a walk to first base.
- Outs
- Three outs end a team's half-inning. Outs come from strikeouts, catches, force-outs and tags.
- Foul balls
- A foul counts as a strike unless the batter already has two strikes (except a foul bunt).
- Force play
- When a runner must advance, a fielder holding the ball on the next base gets the out.
- Pitch clock
- MLB uses a pitch timer between pitches to keep the game moving.
- Designated hitter
- In MLB the DH bats in place of the pitcher.
Learn it, then test yourself
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FAQ
How many innings are in a baseball game?
Nine, plus extra innings if tied.
How many strikes for a strikeout?
Three.
What is a walk?
Four balls outside the strike zone send the batter to first base.
AI-generated, checked against the official rulebook (MLB official rules). Competitions can vary; the governing body's laws are the final word. Last updated October 16, 2026. Spot a mistake? Report an error.