Visiting teams have slight edge in extra innings since `ghost runner' rule adopted
Seattle Mariners' Leo Rivas scores as Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers reaches to tag during the tenth inning in a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Seattle. The Mariners won 7-6. Credit: AP/John Froschauer
NEW YORK — Visiting teams had a 109-107 edge in extra-inning games this year in the second season starting extra innings with a runner on second base has been a permanent rule.
Visitors have a 477-465 edge in extra innings since the so-called “ghost runner” rule was first adopted as a pandemic alteration in 2020. From 2017-19, home teams had a 312-294 advantage.
There were 162 games this season that went 10 innings, with home teams going 83-79. There were 31 that lasted 11 (visiting teams had 16-15 edge), 16 that went 12 (visiting teams 12-4), five that went 13 (home teams 4-1).
Two games stretched to 14 innings: Toronto's 5-3 victory over visiting Pittsburgh on May 31, and Colorado's 5-4 victory at the Chicago White Sox on June 30.
The runner-on-second rule is used in extra innings during the regular season but not in the postseason.
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