Every Monday Baseball Musings compares the offense of the current season to the previous season through the same number of full weeks. Through 22 full weeks the 2025 season generated 8.91 runs per game compared to 8.86 runs per game for 2024. It’s a miniscule difference given that most of the major stats are better in 2025 than in 2024. Home runs are up to 2.31 from 2.26 per game. Walks are up 6.14 to 6.36 per game. Other hits are up to 14.26 per game from 14.18 per game. Overall, games see 14.26 batters reach base per game by a hit, walk, or HBP, compared to 14.18 last season. Strikeouts are down to 16.57 per game compared to 16.83 per game last year.

For much of the season, all of the above was true, but scoring in 2025 trailed 2024. With 9.58 runs scored last week, we’ve now had five weeks in a row over 9.0 runs per game. Through July 26th, MLB batters hit .245/.316/.401, since .248/.318/.415, so a little more power. With runners in scoring position, however, the majors went from .251/.330/.405 to .262/.340/.432.

Was it better lineup construction? Team looking for holes in the defense? Culling out the poor hitters? Maybe it’s all three and some better luck.