What is the difference in Baseball between the American League and the National Leage?

The only rule difference is that the AL uses a designated hitter (DH), a batter that hits but does not play the field. Generally, the pitcher in the AL does not bat to keep the lineup at nine players.

From a strategy point of view there are some differences. AL teams generally rely on power to score runs while NL teams rely on "little ball" - bunting, stealing, moving runners over, etc. This is just a general rule, there are exceptions. There is also a change in pitching styles as far as what pitches a pitcher will throw in certain counts. Also, the national league has a reputation as a "fastball" league, meaning you can almost always expect a fastball in certain counts. AL pitchers will "mix it" up a little, they have to because of all the power hitters. This is why batters will struggle when switching leagues via free agency or trade. Keep in mind also that the bottom of NL lineups are weaker because the pitcher bats. You can pitch around a pitcher, but some number nine hitters in the AL can hit.

National League baseball is different in several ways which brings many people to think that is a better brand of baseball with more strategy involved. First the American league uses a Designated Hitter. This is so that the pitcher never hits in an American League game. The American League is more of a power league meaning that the pitchers are more of a fastball type. When you have more power pitchers you have more power hitters. Power hitters are more prone to be fastball hitters. The American League does not hit and run or sacrifice bunt as often as the National League. Basically it boils down to the American League is a power game and the National League is more of a finesse game.

The American league has a designated hitter while in the National League the pitcher will bat. Also, the American League only has 14 teams whereas the National League has 16 teams.

The difference is the american league has the designated hitter and the national league does not , forcing the pitcher in the national league to bat . The statistics show that the batting averages are higher in the american league as a result of the use of the designated hitter.

Mathwhiz, the biggest distinction between the leagues is that the national League would not have a chosen hitter rule. in the national League, the pitcher bats for himself. additionally, the american League has a night curfew. No inning may be began after night. (i think of that this continues to be in consequence.) there is not any rule on it, yet for some reason American League video games seem to take a minimum of 30 minutes longer according to interest than do national League video games. Regards, Dan

In the National League there is no Designated Hitter for the Pitcher so that Pitchers are forced to bat for themselves. So there are more substitutions in a National League games where you will see a double switch so that the Pitcher will not have to hit late in the games. There is more thaught involved in the substitutions.

the national league does more small things such as stealing bunting and sacrificing unlike the american league

designated hitter in the american league

Batting strategies

DH