The Batting Order

The leadoff man sets the table for the hitters behind him.

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Reaching base often gives the middle of the order chances to drive him in.

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A fast leadoff man turns walks and singles into scoring chances.

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After the first inning, any hitter may lead off depending on where the last inning ended.

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Table-setters reach base for the run producers behind them.

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A patient leadoff man draws walks and shows the others the pitcher's stuff.

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A leadoff homer gives a team the lead on the first pitch it sees.

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Get on, get over, get in.

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On-base skill comes first; power matters least in the leadoff spot.

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The leadoff hitter is the first batter of the game for his team.

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Bunting or hitting behind the runner moved the leadoff man into scoring position.

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Batting second brings more plate appearances over a season than batting lower.

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The runner breaks with the pitch and the batter must make contact.

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Bat control helps him move runners and avoid strikeouts.

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A ground ball to the right side lets a runner on second reach third.

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Statistical studies showed the top spots get the most at-bats with men on base.

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A grounder or fly that advances a runner is a productive out.

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Moving the runner to third lets a fly ball score him.

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Teams moved from the bunting No. 2 man towards batting a top hitter second.

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A grounder to the right side lets the runner advance even if the batter is out.

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The No. 3 hitter combines average and power.

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The first three batters always come up in the first inning.

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He is a run producer.

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Classic No. 3 hitters hit for high average.

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With a dangerous bat behind him, pitchers cannot just walk him.

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Teams have moved their top hitter up for extra plate appearances.

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Run producers bring team-mates home.

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One to four: get on, move along, drive in, clear the bases.

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Whatever happens, spots one, two and three are guaranteed a turn in the opening inning.

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The best all-round hitter often bats third, so he comes up in the first inning.

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With runners on ahead of him, a cleanup hitter's power brings them home.

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Cleanup hitters are usually the team's top home run threats.

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With runners on, a home run by the cleanup man changes the game.

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A strong No. 5 hitter means pitchers cannot pitch around the cleanup man.

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The cleanup spot traditionally belongs to the top slugger.

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Solo homers count, but a slugger is most valuable with runners on.

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Pitchers avoid the strike zone against a hitter they fear.

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Four runs on one swing.

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Cleanup is the classic power spot; leadoff is about getting on.

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The top slugger usually bats cleanup, fourth.

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The middle of the order holds the main run producers.

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A strong No. 5 makes it costly to walk the cleanup man.

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Good teams have run producers deep into the order.

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In a deep line-up there is no easy out for the pitcher.

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Alternating stops a single left-handed reliever from facing several left-handed hitters in a row.

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Protection is the idea that a good hitter behind you gets you better pitches.

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The top hitters set the table for the middle.

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Top: get on. Middle: drive in. Bottom: extend the inning.

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Left, right, left, right makes life hard for a specialist reliever.

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Alternating hands limits what one specialist reliever can do.

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The bottom of the order holds the lighter bats, often strong fielders.

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A ninth hitter who gets on sets the table for the top of the order.

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Pitchers were usually the weakest hitters, so they batted last.

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Teams accept a lighter bat at key defensive spots.

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When the bottom reaches base, the best hitters come up again.

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If the ninth hitter reaches, the leadoff man bats with a runner on.

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Fans called weak hitters, often pitchers, automatic outs.

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The bottom of the order kept the inning alive for the top.

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Higher spots bat more often over a game and a season.

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After the ninth hitter the order returns to the top.

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Managers exchange line-up cards with the umpire before the first pitch.

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Substitutes take a replaced player's spot; the order itself stays.

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Match-ups, rest and form all shape the line-up.

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Over 162 games, rest keeps players fresh and healthy.

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Day games before travel are a common time to rest regulars.

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Players check the posted line-up in the clubhouse.

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Right-handed hitters usually see left-handed pitching better.

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Health, match-up, order, then the exchange.

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Posting comes early, the exchange just before the first pitch.

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The managers exchange line-up cards with the umpires.

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A right-hander's breaking ball curves in towards a left-handed hitter, so he sees it better.

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Splits compare results against left- and right-handed pitchers.

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Switch hitters bat left against right-handers and right against left-handers.

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Batting from the opposite side gives him the better match-up.

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One plays against right-handers and the other against left-handers.

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Same-side match-ups usually favour the pitcher.

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Managers counter one match-up with another.

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Each manager moves to get the advantage.

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Opposite hands favour the hitter; same hands favour the pitcher.

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A switch hitter bats left-handed against right-handed pitchers.

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Each spot down the order bats a little less often.

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Each step down the order loses roughly 15 to 20 plate appearances a season.

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Moving a great hitter up gives him more turns over the season.

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The leadoff man starts the game and often follows the weakest hitters.

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Three batters in each of nine innings make twenty-seven.

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Most hitters come up four or five times in a game.

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Studies show even the best order adds only a few wins a season.

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Leadoff men come up most; the ninth spot the least.

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Thirty-eight batters means spots one and two bat five times, the rest four.

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The leadoff spot comes up most often.

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A lower spot can give a struggling hitter fewer big moments.

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Managers often move hot hitters up the order.

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Stability lets hitters settle into their jobs.

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Lower spots carry less pressure for a new player.

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A new player may not fit the injured player's spot.

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If the wrong batter comes up, the other team can appeal.

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Models estimate which order scores the most runs.

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Managers move hitters as their form changes.

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Rest days come often; long injuries are rarer.

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Many teams use data to set the best batting order.

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