The American League ruled in the first round of interleague play, going 24-18 against the National League. The AL’s interleague success continues a trend. The AL has come out ahead in interleague action the last three seasons, beginning in 2004.

American League Record in Interleague Play, 2004-2007

Year W-L Win Pct
2004 127-125 .504
2005 136-116 .540
2006 154-98. .611
2007 24-18. . .571

Tot 441-357 .553

The AL has been most dominant over the last year. A case could be made that the league’s growing success against the NL is an indicator that it has the better teams. Maybe the better players, too. After all, the AL has won nine of the last 10 All-Star Games, and the 10th was the 7-7 tie in the 2002 Midsummer Classic. On the other hand, the two leagues have split the last six World Series.

Perhaps the AL has a significant advantage in using the designated hitter. The DH is a middle-of-the-order guy for many AL clubs, while the NL turns to a bench player. That advantage would outweigh whatever benefit the NL has in its pitchers having more hitting experience than the AL pitchers who have to bat in NL parks.

There may be something to that, though the two leagues took turns recording the better record over the first six seasons of interleague play. It wasn’t until after the NL bested the AL for a second consecutive season in 2003 -- the seventh annual go-round between the leagues -- that the AL assembled its run of three straight winning seasons over the NL.

The Cards may be the major league champions, but the current trend is that the AL will have a good year against the NL. Whether you believe the interleague record or the World Series says more about which league is the better league, the AL has been the league to beat through September.