NL

National League

One of the two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, the other being the American League (AL). The National League was founded in 1876, making it the older of the two leagues that comprise MLB.

The National League is traditionally known for its emphasis on strategy, especially because, unlike the American League, pitchers are required to bat in games hosted by NL teams, due to the non-use of the designated hitter rule. This rule difference has historically led to various strategic differences in gameplay between the leagues. However, there has been discussion and temporary implementation of the designated hitter in the NL.

The NL is divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West, with each division made up of five teams. These teams compete throughout the MLB regular season to win their division or earn a wild card spot to advance to the postseason playoffs. The ultimate goal is to win the National League pennant and advance to the World Series to face the champion of the American League.

• Abbreviation: NL