There are several different types of baseball. Slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball, arena, indoor, sandlot, waffle, and of course, hardball played with a bat and a ball.
But for those of us who live in North America, there’s only one baseball and that’s the MLB.
If you love sports and all things American, you are probably wondering how many MLB teams there are and where they all play. While there are many, the league is constantly evolving.
We will keep this up-to-date with how many major league baseball teams are there. Let’s dive in.
What is the Total Number of MLB Teams
There are a total of 30 Major League Baseball teams in the United States and Canada. The teams are divided into two leagues, the National League (NL) and American League (AL), which in turn are further divided into three divisions each. As a result, there are 15 teams in each league.
Each team plays 162 games during the regular season. The top teams in each division advance to the postseason to compete in the World Series. The 15 teams in the AL are the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.
The 15 teams in the NL are the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals.
The American League and National League – Breaking Down Team Distribution
The American League is typically composed of teams from the East Coast, Midwest, and Texas. This includes the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays. The National League consists of teams from the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast. These include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants.
Each league is then further broken down into 3 divisions of 5 teams; the East, Central, and West. MLB games are then played within the designated divisional and interleague match-ups, and the World Series each year determines the annual MLB champion. You can choose from these teams when you watch your first baseball game.
Which Teams Play in MLB’s Divisions
In the National League, the East Division consists of the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals.
The West Division is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants. The Central Division is made up of the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Each division has its own champions, but in the end, it’s the two top teams from each division – along with two wild card teams – that compete in the postseason for the World Series championship.
Now You Know How Many Major League Baseball Teams Are There
Still, asking how many major league baseball teams are there? There are 30 Major League Baseball teams, 5 in the National League and 25 in the American League. From the San Diego Padres to the Boston Red Sox, catch America’s pastime at one of these iconic teams near you.
Check out your local team’s schedule today and enjoy the game of baseball.
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