Why World Series games start at unusual times with MLB showpiece given unique first pitch

The MLB World Series is underway but the showpiece games have been scheduled for unusual times.

The New York Yankees and the Los Angles Dodgers are clashing in the championship match-up that everyone wanted to see.

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They are going head-to-head as both look to replicate last year's champions, the Texas Rangers.

The series will be played over seven games and as fans get excited to watch the action, some may be confused by the strange start times...

Why are World Series games starting at unusual times?

Each game of the Dodgers vs Yankees World Series will start at eight minutes past the hour.

This is a unusual time to start a game considering most other sporting events start on the hour, or at quarter past, half past or quarter to the hour.

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But in the USA, it is actually not too strange as it's been the case for a long time.

It is because in the US, broadcasters that start at 8pm are allowed to have a few minutes build-up, analysis and an advert before the game.

Also in that time, the national anthem is usually sung and the opening ceremonies or ceremonial first pitch take place.

Then at eight minutes past the hour, 'playball' is called and the game begins.

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There is also a chance that the pre-match events run over too, meaning the start time moves past 8:08pm / 1:08am UK time.

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This is a similar occurrence in the MLS, with soccer/football matches beginning after the scheduled start time.

Again, this is due to pre-match additions such as national anthems and broadcast adverts that other countries don't have or if they do, they do it before the scheduled start time.

That doesn't seem to be the case in America and that's why the World Series games will be starting at the unique times.

The World Series is witnessing Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge going head-to-head for the championship.

Ohtani and Judge are competing for another MVP to add to their collection while Juan Soto eyes a second ring.