MLB Longest Playoff Games
- Daewon Kang
- Nov 19
- 2 min read
Nov 19, 2025
Daewon Kang
We recently witnessed a historic AL Division Series matchup at T-Mobile Park, where the Seattle Mariners faced the Detroit Tigers in Game 5. Seattle pulled off a thrilling 3–2 win in 15 innings — the longest scoreless “winner-take-all” postseason game in MLB history at that time. However, that record didn’t stand for long. On the 27th (local time), the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays played an 18-inning marathon in Game 3 of the World Series, pushing the limits of postseason endurance even further.
With that in mind, how does this epic showdown compare with other legendary playoff marathons across MLB’s 100-plus-year history? Here’s a look back at some of the longest postseason games ever played.
Tied for first is Game 3 of the 2022 ALDS, where the Houston Astros edged the Seattle Mariners 1–0 after 18 scoreless innings in Seattle’s first home playoff game in 21 years. Both teams delivered an intense pitching duel that produced 42 total strikeouts. Rookie Jeremy Peña became the hero with a clutch home run in the 18th, sending Houston to the ALCS. Luis Garcia was outstanding in relief, throwing five shutout innings and striking out six, while seven Astros pitchers combined to allow just seven hits and one walk in the entire game.
Sharing the same spot is Game 3 of the 2018 World Series, where the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Boston Red Sox 3–2 in a grueling 18-inning battle that lasted 7 hours and 20 minutes — still the longest postseason game in MLB history by time. Max Muncy’s walk-off homer finally ended a game that used 18 pitchers and 46 total players, setting a new postseason record. Boston briefly grabbed the lead in the 13th, but the Dodgers immediately tied it after a fielding error, and both bullpens traded zeros until Muncy’s dramatic blast.
Another unforgettable 18-inning classic was Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS, where the San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 2–1. The Nationals held a 1–0 lead into the 9th behind a dominant performance from Jordan Zimmermann, but after a late pitching change, the Giants tied the game. The stalemate continued until the 18th, when Brandon Belt crushed a go-ahead home run. Lasting 6 hours and 23 minutes, it became the longest postseason game in MLB history at the time, and the Giants went on to win the World Series.
The fourth game in this group is Game 4 of the 2005 NLDS, where the Houston Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 7–6 after another 18-inning thriller. Atlanta once led 6–1, powered by a grand slam from Adam LaRoche, but Houston responded with a grand slam of their own by Lance Berkman in the 8th. Brad Ausmus tied the game with a home run in the 9th, and it remained deadlocked until the 18th, when Chris Burke hit a walk-off homer to send the Astros to the NLCS and complete one of the greatest postseason comebacks ever.
