Welcome to dugoutcentral.com 

The best place for baseball news and information online!

If you are looking for information on Baseball, you have come to the right place. Here at dugoutcentral.com, we’ll give you all the latest information on Major League Baseball, which teams are performing well, and which players are currently standing out.

Baseball is usually affectionately referred to as America’s pastime. Still, it is not only in the US where Baseball is popular. The game has a massive following around the world. It is very popular in Latin America and some Asian countries like South Korea, Japan, and China.

We strive to provide our readers with accurate and reliable information on all the Major League Baseball teams as well as teams from the world’s other top leagues.

Baseball is a complex game with a lot of moving parts. That’s why we have gathered all the information most baseball fans want and put it all in one place. 

What Is a Dugout?

When talking about Baseball, the word dugout refers to an area slightly below the level of the pitch. It’s also the place where the two opposing team’s players and coaches are during a game, also known as the bench. There are two benches, one for the home team and one for the away team. 

It’s not clear why the dugouts are below the ground level. Still, the popular theory is that it enabled the fans seated behind the benches to observe the field better. Most of the action in a baseball game happens on the home plate, so if the fans weren’t able to see it, it would cause problems.

At some stadiums, the ‘dugout’ is on the ground level. There can be various reasons for this, but it’s usually because these stadiums get used for a variety of sports. In the case of these multi-purpose stadiums, the seating area is raised to allow fans to see the playing field clearly.

Who Are the Best Players Currently Playing Professional Baseball?

Baseball is a team sport. We all know that. Nevertheless, individual players often make a difference in any game. Remember that every single pitch is like a battle within a battle between batter and pitcher. 

Take into account that there are usually 200+ pitches in a single game of Baseball. That is why putting the right individual in at the right time can make a world of difference.

We base our rankings on the official MLB Network’s statistical and scouting analysis. Without further ado, here are our top four picks for the best baseball players in the MLB right now.

• Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels
  After winning a third American League Most Valuable Player Award in 2019, Mike Trout keeps his spot at number one. Somehow this incredible player seems to keep getting better and better. Last season it took him only 134 games to hit 45 home runs!
• Christian Yelich – Milwaukee Brewers
  Christian Yelich was very unlucky to miss the last 18 games of the 2019 season with a broken kneecap. The injury caused him to finish second in the votes for the AL MVP award.
• Cody Bellinger – Dodgers
  Last year’s National League MVP rocketed from 44th place last year to his spot in third. What else can one expect when a 24-year old hits 47 home runs and plays an award-winning defense?
• Mookie Betts – Dodgers
  Compared to his stellar 2018, Mr. Betts had a quiet 2019. Even though he still managed 16 stolen bases, 40 doubles, and 29 home runs. This quadruple All-Star also earned his fourth Gold Glove and third Silver Slugger Award in 2019.

These Are All the Teams Currently Competing in Major League Baseball.

In Canada and the USA, there are two professional Major League Baseball or MLB leagues. The National League or NL, and the American League or AL. Each league has three different divisions, namely: Central, West, and East. 

Here are the current top-ranked teams from the AL and NL. Keep in mind that the season is ongoing.

American League

1. Toronto Blue Jays – The team from Canada takes the top spot with twelve wins and six losses
2. Oakland A’s – In second place is the mighty A’s with eight losses and thirteen victories so far.
3. Texas Rangers – third place belongs to the Rangers with a total of eight defeats and twelve wins.
4. Chicago White Sox – The White Six are in fourth place with ten victories and seven losses.
5. New York Yankees – One of the world’s most famous teams, the NY Yankees are in fifth place with eight losses and eleven victories.

National League

1. Phillies – Sitting pretty in first is the team from Philadelphia. They have a record of 14 wins and only five losses.
2. Miami Marlins – The Miami Marlins are currently 2nd in the National League with six defeats and twelve victories.
3. San Diego Padres – In third place, we have the San Diego Padres with eleven wins and a total of seven defeats.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers – The LA Dodgers are ahead of Milwaukee only on their runs differential. They have ten wins and seven losses.
5. Milwaukee Brewers – The Brewers trail the Dodgers only on runs differential. They also have seven losses and ten wins.

That is our current list of the best teams playing in both the American and National Leagues in the MLB. 

How Do the MLB Playoffs Work?

Understanding the MLB playoffs or postseason, as it’s sometimes referred to, can be daunting for new fans. We’ll explain it to you as simply as possible.

Major League Baseball is divided into two leagues, with three divisions each. In each league, the three division winners advance. The two teams with the best record behind the top three also progress, and they are known as wild cards.

The two ‘wild card’ teams from each league play a one-game playoff. The team that wins the playoff advances to play the top division winner in the league in a best-of-five series. The other two division winners also play each other in a best of 5.

The winners of each series in each league progress and face each other in a best-of-seven round. Those two winners are then the champions of each league, and they go on to play each other in the World Series.