MLB Inter-League: 2023 Recap

National League (NL) teams bested American League (AL) teams 364 wins to 332 (52.3% to 47.7%) in the 2023 chapter of Major League Baseball's (MLB) inter-league rivalry including the MLB's 93rd All-Star match + the World Series (WS).

I picked Texas in the WS.I was planning to pick the NL team, but couldn't bring myself to back sixth-seeded Arizona.  

The AL has won 16 of the last 20 inter-league seasons with All-Star and World Series matches included in the counts. The NL won the inter-league contest for 3 consecutive years from 2018 through 2020 after 14 consecutive AL triumphs from 2004 through 2017. The "brain gap" between AL and NL team managements has shrunk and perhaps disappeared completely thanks to the brain drain of smarty-pants and smarty-skirt executives who started in AL organizations and then crossed over to manage NL teams. 

Prior to 2023, the AL had won 9 all-star contests in a row, 21 of 24 to reach a decision and 27 of 33. 

AL East teams defeated NL opponents 126-104 (54.8%) in 2023 after 58% success in 2020 through 2022. 

None of this information is useful for betting purposes. Gambling odds are almost never fair for gamblers. 

MLB Inter-league: 2021 Recap

I incorrectly predicted that the Houston Cheatros would defeat Atlanta in the World Series (WS) based on  American League (AL) superiority. For example, the AL has won 8 all-star matches in a row, 20 of the last 23 to reach a decision and 26 of the last 32.  

With the All-Star game and WS matches included, AL teams bested National League (NL) teams 171-137 (55.375%) in the 2021 instalment of the Major League Baseball (MLB) inter-league rivalry. 

After including the LA Dodgers' 4-2 2020 World Series triumph over the TB Rays, the NL won the annual inter-league contest 3 consecutive years from 2018 through 2020 after 14 consecutive AL triumphs from 2004 through 2017. 

Based on 2018-2020, I had thought that the "brain gap" between AL and NL team managements had disappeared. Many brains who started in AL organizations have since been lured to managing NL teams. But, AL dominance in 2021 is consistent with 2004-2017.

Interesting to note that 2021 AL superiority was based almost entirely on the mighty mighty AL East's 64-36 record against the sad-sack NL LEast. Even after including the WS, Atlanta had a 10-16 inter-league record. AL Central teams finished 56-44 against their NL Central rivals with only the AL West lagging at 47% against the NL West.