Batters find success in ABS challenges during postseason games
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 12, 2026, 2:08 PM
Last updated Oct 12, 2026
In the playoffs, batters have fared better on challenges using the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) compared to the regular season. During the Wild Card Series and Division Series, batters won 57% of their challenges, a rise from 49% over the regular season. Teams are increasingly utilizing ABS, averaging 4.8 challenges per game this postseason compared to 4.3 in the regular season. Notable individual successes include Atlanta's Sean Murphy going 4 for 4 in challenges and Philadelphia's J.T. Realmuto winning 5 of 6, including the first game-ending challenge in postseason history. Four umpires operated with perfect challenge rates through the first two rounds of the postseason.
- •Batters won 71 of 121 ABS challenges in 25 postseason games
- •Jake Bauers and Austin Riley both won their challenges
- •Sean Murphy went 4 for 4 on challenges; Realmuto won 5 of 6
- •Teams are more aggressive with challenges this postseason
- •Performance may shape future usage of the ABS in games
- 3:02 PMESPN MLB — MLB teams using ABS more in postseason amid hitters' successful challenges
- 12:39 PMYahoo Sports — Hitters are winning more ABS challenges in the postseason, and teams are challenging more overall
"NEW YORK (AP) — Batters have been more successful on robot umpire challenges in the playoffs than during the regular season, and teams are utilizing the Automated Ball-Strike System more overall in its postseason debut.Seventy-one of 121 overall challenges under ABS prevailed during the 25 games of the Wild Card Series and Division Series.
"Batters have been more successful on robot umpire challenges in the playoffs than during the regular season, and teams are utilizing the Automated Ball-Strike System more overall in its postseason debut.
Sources
External links- ESPN MLBOct 12, 2026, 3:02 PMMLB teams using ABS more in postseason amid hitters' successful challenges
Batters have been more successful on robot umpire challenges in the playoffs than during the regular season, and teams are utilizing the Automated Ball-Strike System more overall in its postseason debut.
- Yahoo SportsOct 12, 2026, 12:39 PMHitters are winning more ABS challenges in the postseason, and teams are challenging more overall
NEW YORK (AP) — Batters have been more successful on robot umpire challenges in the playoffs than during the regular season, and teams are utilizing the Automated Ball-Strike System more overall in its postseason debut.Seventy-one of 121 overall challenges under ABS prevailed during the 25 games of the Wild Card Series and Division Series.
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