FanShot

Generally speaking, the team that scores first wins 64-67% of the time, BUT...

4

"According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the team that scored first in 2009 won 66.4 percent of the games played. Since 2000, it falls into a 64-67 percent win ratio.... So, doing whatever it takes to score first including bunting should be the top priority." My problem with this article (and Yost's use of this stat) is that they're assuming causation (i.e. assuming that scoring first makes you win more often) instead of simply correlation. It's also quite possible that you're more likely to score first when the opposing starter is having a bad day (or not any good to start with), and your increased win percentage has nothing to do with scoring first, but is instead the result of facing a bad pitcher (or at least a pitcher having a bad day).