The All-Star break means there wouldn't be any pitchers starting twice this week, but that doesn't mean there are no significant schedule advantages for teams.
It used to be that every team took three days off for the break. This year, almost half (14) of the 30 teams are off for four days.
That's particularly true in the American League, where 10 of the 14 teams are scheduled for just three days. The other four -- the Indians, Angels, Athletics and Mariners -- would play four more games, giving their hitters and relief pitchers a 33 per cent advantage over those from other teams.
In the National League, just four teams -- the Diamondbacks, Pirates, Cardinals and Giants -- are scheduled for three games, so the other 12 would play 33 per cent more games. Pitching is likely to take the upper hand. Only one of the teams scheduled for four home games is in an extreme pitchers' park, in San Diego. But the parks at Atlanta, Florida and Dodger Stadium would give pitchers a slight edge, as would Pittsburgh's park for three games. St. Louis is scheduled to play three games at home in an extreme hitters' park.
The AL would have an extreme pitchers' park in play for four games at Oakland, but overall that league's hitters should have the upper hand. Cleveland, the other home venue for four games, favors hitters slightly. Three parks scheduled for three games are extreme hitters' parks: Cell Phone Field in Chicago, Yankee Stadium and Rangers Ballpark. Kansas City's park also would favor hitters for three games. You should expect offense to prevail in the AL.
Schedules for
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