How many innings is a regulation MLB game?

A regulation Major League Baseball (MLB) game consists of nine innings. Each inning is divided into two halves: the top half and the bottom half. 

In the top half of an inning, the visiting team takes their turn to bat and try to score runs, while the home team plays defense, attempting to prevent the visiting team from scoring. The visiting team's offensive half ends when they record three outs.

After the visiting team's half of the inning is complete, the bottom half begins. Now, the home team gets their chance to bat and score runs, while the visiting team plays defense. The home team's offensive half also ends when they record three outs.

This back-and-forth process continues until both teams have completed nine innings. If the game is tied at the end of nine innings, the game enters extra innings. In extra innings, both teams continue to play additional innings until one team has a higher score at the end of an inning. Extra innings can extend the game considerably if the score remains tied, and there is no limit to the number of extra innings that can be played.

The nine-inning format has been the standard for MLB games for many years, and it provides a balanced and traditional structure for the game. However, in certain situations, such as during the playoffs or special events, MLB may modify the format for scheduling reasons or to add excitement to the game.

In conclusion, a regulation MLB game consists of nine innings, with each team taking their turn to bat and play defense. The team with the higher score at the end of nine innings is declared the winner. If the game is tied after nine innings, it goes into extra innings until a winner is determined.

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