| Our analysis has consistently shown us that home | | | | last season and much of their complaints had to |
| teams perform better against non-divisional rivals | | | | do with the fact that their hitters were not |
| but we have always lumped Interleague teams | | | | familiar enough with the stadium to take |
| into this category. There is reason to believe that | | | | advantage. |
| Interleague home teams have a larger advantage. | | | | Familiarity can also be extended to pitcher / hitter |
| It makes sense for home teams to perform | | | | scouting reports. With both teams lacking the |
| better in Interleague play for a variety of reasons. | | | | extensive scouting reports they normally would |
| AL teams have an advantage at home and a | | | | have in normal games, the home field advantage |
| disadvantage on the road because of the DH. | | | | will likely weigh more. |
| When allowed to use the DH, AL teams are able | | | | Our analysis shows us that home teams during |
| to use a vastly superior #9 hitter than the NL | | | | Interleague play have won 56.2% of the time |
| teams are used to. If AL teams are not allowed | | | | versus 53.2% during non-Interleague play. A 3.0% |
| to use the DH, this will often cause the AL team | | | | difference is significant here, especially in a sport |
| to either drop their DH, who is generally one of | | | | where home field advantage is perceived not to |
| their best hitters or move him into a position for | | | | exist. |
| the Interleague games. Since the DH is not used | | | | Home Favorites in Interleague play over the past |
| to playing the position, he becomes susceptible to | | | | 3 seasons have gone 331-191 (63.4%) +53 units. |
| committing errors. | | | | If our team is motivated off a loss to the very |
| There is also an issue with familiarity. Road teams | | | | same team it is facing, our team’s win |
| in Interleague games are often not familiar with | | | | percentage jumps up to 65.1% and the spread is |
| the stadium they are playing in and as a result | | | | off by about 15 points on average. |
| cannot use it to their advantage. The classic | | | | As you can see, since Interleague games |
| example would be at Fenway Park where banging | | | | represent such a small minority of the total |
| balls up against the Green Monster leads to a lot | | | | number of games played, the home field |
| of doubles. The Padres had a losing home record | | | | advantage in such games is not readily known. |