Baseball begins "pie-slice rule" experiment to limit shifts

How it works: Two chalk lines will be drawn on the infield behind second base, extending from each edge of the bag to the outfield grass. The ensuing triangular patch of dirt will be off-limits until the pitch is delivered.

• The idea is to increase hits up the middle — one of the many results that have dwindled in the era of extreme defensive shifts.
• Other sports already have similar rules, like the NFL's neutral zone infraction or the NBA's restricted area under the basket, where defenders can't take a charge.
• If a defender violates the "pie slice rule," the hitting team can choose the outcome of the pitch, the outcome of the play or an automatic ball.

The backdrop: The minor leagues have tested other shift-limiting rules this season, and three other major experiments are in place: larger bases (to increase steal attempts and infield hits), pitch clocks (could come to MLB in 2023) and "robo-umps" (could come to MLB in 2024).