Home field advantage is something that baseball teams are often hoping for, but it’s one of the sport’s great unquantifiables. Atmosphere certainly impacts the events on the field, but does it give the home side an added advantage? MLB’s 2020 season is initially set to be played in front of no fans, so will that home advantage count for anything in the coming months?

A Different Ball Game

The 2020 MLB season is going to be like nothing we have ever seen before. There will be just 60 regular season games, with no fans in attendance for at least the very beginning of the season. Teams will be traveling much less, with 40 of those 60 games to be played in their own division.

Familiarity may breed contempt between MLB franchises this season as tensions arising from game to game will be escalated the more they play each other. The hastily-put-together MLB schedule has thrown up some interesting quirks, like how the Red Sox play seven of 10 games against the Yankees in New York.

Home Advantage

A 2014 study conducted by the Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology, discovered that MLB teams win just 53.6 percent of their home games. This is hugely different from NBA teams who win 61 percent of their home games. Those MLB figures are with crowds having minor influences on umpires and opposition fans. With players less weary from their travels, and less intimidating atmospheres in 2020, it’s unlikely there will be as much fear for the road team.

Should fans be allowed back into the stands for the later part of the season, we will be able to compare results and see how big an advantage they really bring. Considering there is only a small home advantage in MLB according to reports, that could completely diminish this season. Perhaps we’ll even see road teams winning a higher percentage than home teams.

Stephen Curry’s performance at the 71st NBA All-Star Game will raise money for the Cleveland Metro School District, it was announced before the game. A $1,000 donation for every point made, $3,000 for every three-pointer, and $10,000 for MVP of the All-Star Game were intended to be made by him.

Even though Akron, Ohio native Stephen Curry was making his All-Star debut against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was booed heavily prior to game time, but that quickly turned to cheer when Curry lit up Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with one of the best All-Star Game performances ever. Curry was born just outside of Akron.

What a Noble Cause by Stephen Curry!

A flurry of 3-pointers from Stephen Curry helped him score 50 points, just two short of Anthony Davis’ all-time scoring record at the 2017 All-Star Game. During the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award, he scored 50 points on a blistering 17-30 from the field and 16-27 from the three-point line.

In addition to the $108,000 he raised for the Cleveland Metro School District as a result of his 3-point shooting and MVP honors, Curry and the Curry Brand are providing Positive Coaching Alliance training to all of the district’s basketball coaches.

After a few months of inconsistent play, we’ll see if Curry’s spectacular performance in Sunday’s All-Star Game can help him get back on track as the Warriors strive to reach another NBA Finals.

More About Steph

In addition to being the older brother of current NBA player Seth Curry, Curry is also the son of former NBA player Dell Curry. While at the Davidson Wildcats in the Southern Conference he was voted conference player of the year twice and established the NCAA record for most three-pointers made in a season as a sophomore in his sophomore season. During the 2009 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors picked Curry with the seventh overall choice.