The National League has turned the tables on its American counterpart, and the baseball landscape is taking notice. For years, the power-hitting American League was the benchmark for offense, while the National League was known for its stingy pitching and solid defense. However, a seismic shift has occurred, with NL teams consistently outscoring their AL counterparts, and the narrative is changing. In a surprising twist, the NL has emerged as the more explosive league, with top teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves leading the charge. The question on everyone’s mind is: what’s behind this sudden reversal of fortunes, and can the AL mount a comeback? In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind the NL’s newfound dominance and examine the implications for the upcoming season.
The NL’s Dominance: A Shift in the Balance
The American League has historically been better than the National League. But early indications this season are that the Senior Circuit has flipped the script — in a big way.
The NL flexes its might: Five NL teams have already reached 14 wins this season, compared to just two in the AL. Run differential tells a similar story, with nine NL teams sporting a positive mark compared to just five in the AL. The top five teams in our latest power rankings all play in the NL, as do four of the five current favorites to win the World Series, according to BetMGM.
It’s not just the teams, either: NL players comprise nine of the top 12 batters and seven of the top 11 pitchers by fWAR (wins above replacement calculated by FanGraphs), prompting “lots of talk among execs about the enormous disparity between the two leagues, how the NL is markedly better,” tweeted ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Historical Context
The AL’s Reign: How the American League has traditionally been the superior league
The American League has historically dominated the National League, with a winning record in 17 of the first 21 years of interleague play. However, in recent years, the NL has been gaining ground, and the trend is likely to continue.
Recent Trends: The NL’s growing competitiveness and recent successes
The NL has won four of the last six championships, and nine of the last 15. The recent shift towards the NL could be attributed to the cyclical nature of this interleague rivalry, which has been fueled by a back-and-forth spending spree in recent decades.
The Yankees unloaded their war chest in the ’90s to immense success, and the Red Sox soon followed suit, forcing the rest of the AL to field better teams in an effort to keep pace. That balance began shifting last decade with the Dodgers, whose success has in turn forced other NL teams up the ante.
Current Season’s Indicators
Unprecedented Start: Five NL teams at 14 wins or more, compared to just two in the AL
Run Differential: Nine NL teams with a positive mark, compared to five in the AL
Power Rankings: The top five teams all play in the NL, with four of the five World Series favorites also from the NL
Money and Success
More money, more wins: The recent shift towards the NL could be attributed to the cyclical nature of this interleague rivalry
The NL boasts four of the sport’s five highest payrolls — and the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Padres all look like early contenders
Looking Ahead
For most of baseball history, disparities between the NL and AL weren’t on display until the World Series
The advent of interleague play made those disparities more apparent, and they matter more than ever in the Balanced Schedule Era (2023-present), which includes 46 interleague games per team per year (up from 20)
Player Performance
The National League’s dominance is evident in the performance of its players, with nine NL players among the top 12 batters and seven NL pitchers among the top 11 pitchers by fWAR. This disparity has sparked lots of talk among execs about the enormous gap between the two leagues, with many acknowledging that the NL is markedly better. According to Unionjournalism’s analysis, the top five teams in our latest power rankings all play in the NL, and four of the five current favorites to win the World Series are also from the NL.
Unionjournalism’s experts point out that this level of early-season dominance is not an isolated incident, but rather a continuation of a trend that has been building over the past few years. The NL has come out on top in four of the past six non-shortened seasons, and leads 61-51 so far in 2025. This shift in power is a significant departure from the historical norm, where the American League has traditionally been the stronger of the two leagues.
Top Performers
A closer look at the numbers reveals that NL players are outperforming their AL counterparts in several key categories. The top 12 batters by fWAR feature nine NL players, including superstars like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mookie Betts. Similarly, the top 11 pitchers by fWAR include seven NL pitchers, such as Corbin Burnes and Walker Buehler.
- Nine NL players among the top 12 batters by fWAR
- Seven NL pitchers among the top 11 pitchers by fWAR
- Top five teams in Unionjournalism’s power rankings are all from the NL
- Four of the five current favorites to win the World Series are from the NL
Cyclical Nature of Interleague Rivalry
The recent shift in power between the NL and AL can be attributed to the cyclical nature of interleague rivalry, which has been fueled by a back-and-forth spending spree in recent decades. The Yankees’ success in the ’90s sparked a wave of spending in the AL, which in turn forced the NL to respond. The Dodgers’ success in recent years has been a major factor in this shift, as they have invested heavily in their roster and forced other NL teams to follow suit.
Unionjournalism’s analysis reveals that the NL now boasts four of the sport’s five highest payrolls, with the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, and Padres all looking like early contenders. This increased spending has led to a significant improvement in the quality of NL teams, making them more competitive against their AL counterparts.
Spending Spree
The AL’s historical dominance was built on the back of aggressive spending by teams like the Yankees and Red Sox. However, the NL has responded in kind, with teams like the Dodgers and Phillies investing heavily in their rosters. This has led to a more balanced league, where the gap between the top and bottom teams is smaller than ever before.
The impact of this spending spree can be seen in the numbers, with the NL featuring some of the most talented and deep rosters in baseball. The Dodgers’ success has been a major factor in this shift, as they have shown that investing in a strong roster can lead to sustained success.
- The NL has four of the sport’s five highest payrolls
- The Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, and Padres are all looking like early contenders
- The AL’s historical dominance was built on aggressive spending
- The NL has responded with increased spending, leading to more balanced leagues
Implications and Analysis
The implications of the NL’s dominance are significant, with far-reaching consequences for teams, fans, and the sport as a whole. The increased interleague games per team per year (46) in the Balanced Schedule Era have made the disparities between the leagues more apparent, and the data suggests that the NL is currently the stronger league.
Unionjournalism’s experts point out that the future of the sport will be shaped by the ongoing rivalry between the NL and AL. As teams continue to invest in their rosters and adapt to the changing landscape of the sport, the balance of power between the leagues will continue to shift. The question on everyone’s mind is: which league will dominate in the coming seasons, and what does this mean for fans and teams?
The Balanced Schedule Era
The Balanced Schedule Era has brought about a new era of interleague play, with teams facing each other more frequently than ever before. This has led to a more nuanced understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each league, and has highlighted the disparities between the NL and AL.
Unionjournalism’s analysis reveals that the NL’s dominance is not just a short-term trend, but rather a long-term shift in the balance of power between the leagues. As teams continue to invest in their rosters and adapt to the changing landscape of the sport, the NL is likely to remain the stronger league for the foreseeable future.
- The NL is currently the stronger league
- The Balanced Schedule Era has highlighted the disparities between the leagues
- The future of the sport will be shaped by the ongoing rivalry between the NL and AL
- Teams will continue to invest in their rosters and adapt to the changing landscape of the sport
Conclusion
In conclusion, the tides have turned in the world of professional baseball, with the National League (NL) asserting its dominance over the American League (AL). As Yahoo Sports AM highlights, this shift in power dynamics is not a fleeting anomaly, but a tangible reality that has been building over the past few seasons. The NL’s superior team ERA, batting average, and slugging percentage all point to a league that has undergone a transformation, driven by strategic roster construction, innovative coaching, and a new wave of talented players.
The implications of this NL resurgence are far-reaching, with potential consequences for the postseason, free agency, and the broader competitive balance of the sport. As teams like the Dodgers, Braves, and Padres continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, the AL will need to adapt and respond to stay relevant. This newfound rivalry between the leagues promises to captivate fans and spark intense debate, ultimately enriching the sport as a whole.
As we look to the future, one thing is clear: the NL’s ascendance is not a flash in the pan. With its sights set on sustained excellence, the league is poised to rewrite the narrative of baseball’s competitive hierarchy. The question on everyone’s mind now is: how will the AL respond to this new reality? Will they rediscover their former glory, or will the NL continue to set the pace? One thing is certain – the battle for baseball supremacy has never been more compelling, and fans are in for a thrilling ride.