GUIDES · BETSLIP DOCTOR
Why can individual left-on-base totals differ from a team's LOB total?
An individual batter's LOB counts runners remaining after that batter makes an out. A team's LOB counts runners left at the end of the inning, so the same runner can appear in multiple individual situations but only in the final team count once.
For Baseball readers comparing individual and team box-score totals · Updated
An individual LOB is tied to a batter's out
For an individual batter, left on base refers to the runners who remain after that batter makes an out at the plate.
That is a batter-level snapshot during the inning, not the team's final count.
Team LOB is the end-of-inning count
A team's LOB is the number of runners still on base when the inning ends. The team figure uses one final moment, while individual figures attach stranded runners to particular batter outs.
If a runner stays on base through more than one batter's out, the individual LOB entries can sum to more than the team total.
Hypothetical inning
Fictional example: a runner is on second and remains there through three consecutive batter outs. Each batter's individual LOB snapshot can include that runner, while the team records one runner left on base when the inning ends.
Related questions
Is a team's LOB the sum of every batter's LOB?
No. Team LOB is counted at the end of the inning, while individual LOB is attached to runners remaining after a batter makes an out.
Can the same runner affect multiple individual LOB entries?
Yes. If the runner remains on base through multiple outs, each batter-level snapshot can include that runner.