The visiting team always bats first in baseball. The visitors hit in the top of each inning and the home team hits in the bottom, which gives the home team the last chance to score and is one reason home field matters. The chart below covers who bats first in every setting, including the postseason, neutral site games and youth leagues, plus how the first batter of each inning is decided.
Who bats first?
Every setting, from Little League to the World Series
The rule never changes: the home team bats last.
1
MLB regular seasonThe home team bats last, in the bottom of each inning, so it always gets the final chance to score.
Visiting team
2
Wild Card SeriesAll three games are at the higher seed’s park, so the higher seed bats last every game.
Lower seed
3
Division SeriesGames 1, 2 and 5 are at the higher seed’s park; games 3 and 4 flip.
Depends on the game
4
League Championship Series and World SeriesA 2, 3, 2 format: the team with home field bats last in games 1, 2, 6 and 7.
Depends on the game
5
Neutral site games (London, Mexico City, Field of Dreams)One team is named the home team in advance and bats last.
Designated visitor
6
High school baseballHome team bats last; at neutral sites, a coin toss or the tournament bracket decides.
Visiting team
7
College baseballHome team bats last; neutral site tournaments designate a home team.
Visiting team
8
Little League and youth leaguesThe schedule sets the home team; tournaments often use a coin flip.
Visiting team
9
SoftballSame rule as baseball: the home team hits in the bottom of the inning.
Visiting team
10
First batter of the gameThe player in the first spot of the visiting team’s lineup card starts the game.
Visitors’ leadoff hitter
11
First batter of any later inningEach inning starts with the player after the last batter of the previous inning.
Next hitter in the order
12
Extra innings, MLB regular seasonA runner starts on second base: the player who batted just before the inning’s leadoff hitter.
Next hitter in the order
13
Home team leading after 8.5 inningsThe game ends without a bottom of the ninth, since the visitors cannot catch up.
Home team does not bat
Based on the Official Baseball Rules and MLB’s 2026 postseason format. Youth and school rules follow the same home and away principle.
Why the Home Team Bats Last
Batting last is an advantage. The home team always knows exactly how many runs it needs in its final at bat, which shapes decisions like bunting, stealing and pinch hitting. Early in baseball history the home team could choose, and nearly every team chose to hit last. The rule was eventually written so the home team always bats in the bottom of the inning.
How the Batting Order Works
Each team hands the umpire a lineup card before the game, listing nine hitters in order. The leadoff hitter bats first, and the order cycles through all nine all game long. A new inning begins with whoever follows the last batter of the previous inning, so the leadoff hitter only leads off the first inning for certain. Batting out of order can cost a team an out if the other team appeals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the home team or away team bat first?
The away team bats first, in the top of the inning.
Who bats first in the World Series?
It depends on the game. The team with home field advantage bats last in games 1, 2, 6 and 7, and the other team bats last in games 3, 4 and 5.
Does the home team bat in the bottom of the ninth if it is winning?
No. If the home team leads after the top of the ninth, the game ends.
Related
Force out vs. tag out · Is there overtime in baseball · How do baseball playoffs work
The rules on batting order and home team are in MLB’s rules glossary, and youth rules are in the Little League playing rules.
