What is the difference between the American and National baseball leagues about Substituting players?

Answer 1

As far as the rules are concerned, there are no differences between the two leagues. The differences are in strategy and how to use players and mostly involve the pitcher. One tactic used in the National League is called the 'double switch'. This usually occurs late in a close ball game when the pitcher is due up to bat in the following inning. When a manager comes out to remove a pitcher sometimes he will also remove a fielder. Usually, this fielder has batted in the previous inning, maybe even made the final out of the inning. Since the manager has replaced two players, he may designate where the players will bat in the batting order. So the manager will place the new fielder in the batting position of the pitcher and the pitcher in the batting order of the replaced player. That allows the new fielder to bat in the next inning and places the pitcher to bat much later in the order.