How to Write About Major League Baseball Teams

Baseball is a team sport in which players compete to score more runs than their opponents. The game is played on a diamond-shaped field with four bases, and two teams of nine players alternate between being fielders (playing defense) and batters (playing offense). During a period of play called an inning, the members of the batting team attempt to hit the ball out of the reach of the fielders so they can complete a circuit around the bases and return to home plate. If they fail to do so, the batter is “put out” and his or her team loses the game.

Traditionally, the American League and National League each had 16 teams, and they competed head-to-head during the season for the pennant and the right to play in the World Series. However, starting in 2022, each league added two expansion teams to bring its total number of teams to 30.

In addition to the teams in the major leagues, there are also professional leagues in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Venezuela, and Japan. The champions of the two leagues in each country meet in a championship series each February.

When writing about a baseball team, it’s best to avoid using nicknames that have changed over time, such as the Indians/Guardians and Senators/Nationals. It’s also better to use the full first and last names of all players involved in a play, except when the player’s name is well known or might confuse readers.