MLB defensive shifts up another 33 percent this season

NEW YORK (AP) It was another year of big shifts in Major League Baseball.

Teams used 17,733 defensive shifts on balls in play this season, Baseball Info Solutions said Monday. That is up 33 percent from 13,298 last year.

Shifts increased from 2,357 in 2011 to 4,577 the following year and 8,180 in 2013.

Colorado had the biggest increase, an 897-shift rise from 114 in 2014 to 1,011 this season. Tampa Bay led the major leagues with 1,462, a rise of 638, and Houston was second at 1,416.

Atlanta (211) and Washington (216) were the teams that shifted the least.