DFS MLB: Top Five Hitters Visiting Camden Yards

In our daily quest to conquer Daily Fantasy Sports, we need the best information to beat our opponents. We continue to review the top five hitters visiting each MLB ballpark, from the 2017  season, to arm you with information you need to conquer you DFS MLB cash game and GPP’s.

If you’re starting DFS MLB for the first time, or have played DFS MLB for years, you’ll learn quickly, or already know, the daily pitching match ups and ballpark location information is vital to conquering your cash or GPP plays. We’re going to look at the top five hitters taking at least 20 or more plate appearances when visiting each ballpark across Major League Baseball.

We’ve already covered two hitter-friendly parks, Chase Field and SunTrust Park. Each is recently notorious for the offensive production developed from visiting teams. As an avid DFS MLB player, you know to target those parks, or if new to DFS MLB you have heard of their hitter-friendly benefits.

Diving into our next ballpark, we’ll review a field more well known for it’s recent historic reputation. Opened in 1992, Camden Yards has been home to the Orioles through Cal Ripken‘s consecutive games played steak, hosted playoff games, and memorable All-Star game moments. The Park has a nostalgic warehouse beyond the right field wall, and is only two blocks from the birthplace of Babe Ruth.

Camden Yards is an oddly shaped field, with only 318′ to the right field corner, but a large wall at that point. To the left field, the yard expands 333′ from home plate with a much lower wall, and 364′ to left-center. In center field, there are two points, one 410′ from home plate and another 400′ from home plate. Even though the right field pole line is 318′ from home plate, the right-center line quickly expands to 373 feet. So while there are benefits to crushing the ball into right field, if it moves toward center field, you’re quickly in trouble.

Very much like SunTrust Park, as we review our list it becomes obvious the most productive hitters with the most amount of time at the plate are from the same division as the Orioles. However, while some of the top-five sluggers are obvious, some aren’t. So, now that we’ve covered the stadium, who’s enjoyed the visits the most?

DFS MLB: Top Five Hitters Visiting Camden Yards

When we looked at the list of top-five most productive offensive players in Camden Yards during the 2017 season, we weren’t too surprised by the top hitter, Aaron Judge. The rookie took the league by storm and dominated early in the season smashing baseballs well over most ballpark fences.

With 38 plate appearances, one big concern DFS MLB players should have is Judge’s strikeout rate in Camden Yards, or in general. Judge was saved of his strike out rate of 23.7% by his walk rate of 26.3%. As pitchers become more comfortable with Aaron’s strengths and weaknesses, we have to assume the K-rate will become a problem. However, Judge still managed five singles, two doubles, and three home runs in his 28 at-bats.

With a .357 batting average in Camden Yards, Orioles pitchers will need to take Judges seriously, meaning his walk-rate may stay relatively high. Also, while Judge managed to knock in seven RBI’s, one of the most in the park last season, he also scored nine runs which was tied for the most of any hitter in the ballpark. So even with a high K-rate, Judge’s 234 wRC+ can’t be ignore, and he’s a must own each time he’s in Baltimore.

If you’re looking for a more consistent slugger in Camden Yards, look no further than Blue Jays’ third baseman Josh Donaldson. In 2017, Josh had an equal 19.4% strikeout and walk rate when in Camden Yards.

Hitting .400 against the O’s in Baltimore, Josh was able to overcome his K-rate with seven singles, a double, and two home runs. Additionally, Josh drove is six runs and scored five. So when on base, Donaldson is in the right part of the order to score. In fact, considering Josh’s ten hits with 25 at-bats, it’s likely he’ll score or drive a run in each time he makes it to first base.

Who rounds out the top five? We’re, mostly, staying in the American League East…

DFS MLB: Rounding Out Top Five Hitters Visiting Camden Yards

One of the obvious outliers in this group is Jose Ramirez. The 25-year-old Indians second baseman rapidly emerged as a dynamic offensive player in the later part of the 2017 season. Ramirez can do it all, hit for contact or power, steal bases, or slug home runs and knock in runners. During his six games in Baltimore, he was also successful.

With 21 plate appearances, Jose only had two walks. But Ramirez made the most of his at-bats with four singles, two doubles, and two triples. He didn’t put any over the fence, but he scored five runs and only strike out two times. In fact, Jose was a hard out in Baltimore and had a slugging percentage (.737) similar to Aaron Judge in Camden Yards, even without a home run. When the Indians are in Baltimore, Ramirez is a must-play a 2B.

Logan Morrison only hit .246 last season, but he gained fantasy baseball notoriety with 38 home runs and 85 RBI’s in 601 plate appearances for the Rays. However, in Camden Yards, Logan’s performance excelled.

With 44 plate appearances in ten games, a very good population of data, Morrison managed to produce a better .300 batting average along with an incredible 27.3% walk rate. In addition, Logan racked up four singles, two doubles, and three home runs with eight runs and four RBI’s.

Considering the number of home runs and doubles, the RBI amount is disappointing, but also shows the potential Morrison has this season if he has the right pieces around him in the Rays lineup.

Finally, Matt Holliday was a surprise top-five hitter in Baltimore last season. Holliday generally had a terrible year, only hitting .231 with 19 home runs and 64 RBI’s in 427 plate appearances. But in Camden Yards, Matt had an awesome 27% walk rate, improved .296 batting average, and three home runs with 37 plate appearances. Unfortunately, Holliday is currently a 38-year-old free agent. But if signed in the American League by any team, play him when in Camden Yards.

Honorable Mentions: We start with another surprise, Devon Travis starting at second base for the Blue Jays. This is Travis’ third season in MLB and he was a DFS MLB darling two years ago, during the second half of the season. Devon isn’t typically considered a power hitter, but he’s demonstrated streaks of power in the majors.

With 23 plate appearances, while Travis has a horrendous 30.4% K-rate in Camden Yards, he has an incredible .435 batting average thanks to seven singles, a double, and a home run in just 23 at-bats. Devon scored once but also knocked in five. He’s a risky play for DFS MLB, but also likely a solid value pick in your lineup.

The final mention is not as surprising, Andrew Benintendi. The 23-year-old former Razorback developed into a full-blown major league baseball player last season and he’ll be a hot commodity in most Fantasy Baseball drafts.

With a solid .271 batting average, 20 home runs, 84 runs, and 90 RBI’s in his first full season, it’s not surprising Benintendi was so dominate in Camden Yards. But this is a reminder his DFS MLB status gets better in Baltimore, so pay up for Andrew when he’s playing the O’s in Camden.

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