| The National League sets itself apart from the | | | | National League has an off day, he can generally |
| American League in that the pitcher has to bat in | | | | still have a great start because of the pitcher |
| the #9 spot. With the pitcher coming up to bat at | | | | batting and his ability to walk the #8 hitter if he |
| least once every 2-3 innings, National League | | | | gets into jams. |
| pitchers are at an extreme advantage because | | | | As it pertains to betting, favorites in the National |
| they are almost guaranteed an out. | | | | League play a lot better than favorites in the |
| As a result of the pitcher batting, many pitchers | | | | American League. Since the odds for baseball |
| get out of jams easily or walk the #8 hitter to | | | | betting are almost exclusively created based on |
| get to the pitcher. In the end, National League | | | | starting pitching, a dominant starting pitcher in the |
| starting pitchers generally have an ERA that is | | | | right situation against a team that he generally has |
| about 1 full point better than their American | | | | success against will almost certainly win in the |
| League counterparts. | | | | weak hitting National League. |
| It is also a fact that the majority of National | | | | As a general rule of thumb, I look for National |
| League ballparks are created to be pitching | | | | League favorites and American League underdogs. |
| friendly. So even when a great pitcher in the | | | | |