A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Your Baseball Team

Baseball is one of America’s favorite sports, cherished for the sheer joy of watching the game. For those new to the sport or looking to deepen their engagement, selecting the right team to support can add a whole other layer of excitement. If you’re just starting out, don’t worry—we’ve rounded up some tips to help you make a confident choice. From understanding team dynamics and statistics to watching the weather and studying player form, we’ve got all you need to know.

Understand Team Dynamics and Past Record

There are many factors to consider when choosing a Major League Baseball (MLB) team to support, so making the right choice is important. One of the most common ways to decide is by looking at a team’s winning record. This is where you simply pick the team you believe will perform well in the season. When examining MLB team standings, you’ll see records expressed as a number with wins and losses. Remember, teams with more wins are often favorites among fans, while teams with fewer wins might be seen as underdogs with potential for a surprising season.

Different Types of Common MLB Strategies

Run differentials are unique to MLB and offer insights into how well a team is performing relative to its opponents. It’s baseball’s version of a point spread and is usually measured by how many more runs a team scores compared to what it allows. This means a team with a positive run differential tends to win by more runs, while a team with a negative differential might lose or have closer games. It’s a little more complex to understand than simply looking at wins and losses, but it can be fun once you know your stuff.

Another popular way to analyze teams is by looking at their total scoring potential, often referred to as over/under predictions. In this type of analysis, you consider whether the total number of runs scored by both teams will be higher or lower than a specified number. You’ll do best to look for teams that are known for either high-scoring games or strong defensive plays, which brings us to the next point!

Look Out for Big Hitters

Pitching is, understandably, super important in Major League Baseball. If you spot a game featuring a famous pitcher, pay attention, because the outcome might hinge on their performance. Whichever team you want to support, you need to look into each team’s recent performance, historical matchups against the opposing team, and any other strategic factors. You can find most of this information by simply checking team websites, sports news, and social media profiles.

Another couple of important things to consider before choosing your team are injuries and player availability. Understandably, a key player being out injured can have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. This can also affect team morale, so if you’re rooting for a team missing a star player, it might be a chance to witness how they adapt and overcome challenges.

Don’t Forget the Weather

Baseball is a game that’s impacted in quite a big way by the weather. Unfortunately, the weather varies hugely throughout the United States, so it’s something you really have to keep an eye on. Wind can affect the direction and speed of the ball, humidity can tire out players, and hot ground can lead to slips and sometimes falls. There is almost no kind of weather that won’t affect the game in some way, so it’s up to you to spot it coming!

It’s also wise to get an understanding of the stadium where the game is being held. Some ballparks are more hitter-friendly due to their dimensions and altitude, such as Coors Field in Colorado. This stadium is so hitter-friendly because of the dry air (which can speed up ball travel) and the huge outfield. Of course, there are other stadiums that favor pitchers. If you love the game anyway, then finding out these facts should only add to the excitement.