BOSTON — The Red Sox have averaged the longest games in Major League Baseball this season. They have played four games over 5 hours and 16 games over 4 hours. They have played 30 games over 3 hours, 40 minutes.

Their average game length of 3 hours, 25 minutes is 8 minutes longer than the Brewers who have averaged the second longest games (3:17).

“I don’t think we can do anything about that unless they change the rules and all that,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Our guys are running off the field. They’re ready to go after eight pitches of warmups. There’s other stuff that comes into play that slows down the game.”

Cora said one of those factors is teams using multiple signs between the pitcher and catcher.

“I know if you guys have noticed it but I think we’re the only team that visitors come here and they use multiple signs with nobody on (base)," Cora said. "We slow it down. But the opposition slow it down more than we do. Maybe that’s the reason our games are longer.”

Of the 124 pitches who have logged 100 or more innings this year, only one (Wade Miley, 19.5) has averaged less than 20 seconds between pitch, per Fangraphs.com.

Red Sox’s David Price leads the league in time between pitches (29.6). Eduardo Rodriguez averages 25.6 seconds, Rick Porcello 24.2 seconds and Chris Sale 23.0 seconds.

Cora didn’t give his opinion on whether he is in favor of a pitch clock. But he thinks the minor leaguers who have used them are beginning to work at a faster pace.

“If you look at the kids that are coming up, they do a good job under the pitch clock,” Cora said. “You see the difference. I just think the game slows down."

The 2019 season marks the third straight year the Red Sox have averaged the longest games in Major League Baseball (tied with Dodgers in ’18). They lead the American League for a fourth straight season.