Knowing as much information about the 30 different major league ballparks is imperative for your success in fantasy baseball. Whether you’re playing standard roto, head-to-head, categories, points, whatever – understanding which parks are hitter-friendly, which ones are pitcher-friendly and how each of them plays on a day-to-day basis matters.
The table below reveals how each MLB stadium performed against its counterparts in terms of runs scored in 2016. The ratings are based on the offensive output that the park produced during the regular season with both home and away team’s stats accounted for in the calculation.
There are often variations, even if they are slight, in offensive production at the 30 different MLB stadiums from season-to-season. However, one thing has remained glaringly steady, and it should come as no surprise to fantasy baseball enthusiasts -- Coors Field produced more runs than any other big-league venue in 2016, marking the fifth consecutive year in which it has done so. The mile-high altitude along with the seemingly mile-wide alleys in left-center and right-center field at the Rockies’ home park combine to create a veritable hitter heaven and pitcher hell.
It is advisable not to lean too much on simply Park Rating Factors when gauging offensive options in your seasonal fantasy baseball drafts. Keep in mind that great hitters will almost always produce regardless of venue, but when a proven bat like Ian Desmond moves to Colorado, go ahead and bump that player up your rankings.
Parks Factors can also be incredibly useful when attempting to project a pitcher that moves from one stadium to another as well. We have already seen in 2016 that a hurler such as Ivan Nova benefitted greatly from a move not only from the American League to the National League, but also from Yankee Stadium to Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.
| MLB Park Factors - 2016 | MLB Park Factors - 2016 | |||||
| RK | PARK NAME | RUNS | RK | PARK NAME | HR | |
| 1 | Coors Field (COL) | 1.368 | 1 | Yankee Stadium (NYY) | 1.377 | |
| 2 | Chase Field (ARI) | 1.225 | 2 | Chase Field (ARI) | 1.292 | |
| 3 | Progressive Field (CLE) | 1.207 | 3 | Coors Field (COL) | 1.265 | |
| 4 | Fenway Park (BOS) | 1.199 | 4 | Great American Ball Park (CIN) | 1.175 | |
| 5 | Kauffman Stadium (KC) | 1.171 | 5 | Progressive Field (CLE) | 1.168 | |
| 6 | Rogers Centre (TOR) | 1.156 | 6 | Safeco Field (SEA) | 1.158 | |
| Globe Life Park in Arlington (TEX) | 1.156 | 7 | Citizens Bank Park (PHI) | 1.149 | ||
| 8 | Turner Field (ATL) | 1.059 | 8 | Comerica Park (DET) | 1.138 | |
| 9 | Target Field (MIN) | 1.044 | 9 | Miller Park (MIL) | 1.126 | |
| 10 | Yankee Stadium (NYY) | 1.035 | 10 | Guaranteed Rate Field (CWS) | 1.101 | |
| 11 | Comerica Park (DET) | 1.019 | 11 | Citi Field (NYM) | 1.09 | |
| 12 | Petco Park (SD) | 1.014 | 12 | Fenway Park (BOS) | 1.065 | |
| 13 | AT&T Park (SF) | 1.012 | 13 | Angel Stadium of Anaheim (LAA) | 1.056 | |
| 14 | PNC Park (PIT) | 1.007 | 14 | Globe Life Park in Arlington (TEX) | 1.049 | |
| 15 | Great American Ball Park (CIN) | 0.99 | 15 | Nationals Park (WSH) | 1.023 | |
| 16 | Citi Field (NYM) | 0.988 | 16 | Target Field (MIN) | 1.014 | |
| 17 | Miller Park (MIL) | 0.972 | 17 | Rogers Centre (TOR) | 1.01 | |
| 18 | Nationals Park (WSH) | 0.956 | 18 | Oriole Park at Camden Yards (BAL) | 1.009 | |
| 19 | Oriole Park at Camden Yards (BAL) | 0.953 | 19 | Petco Park (SD) | 0.957 | |
| 20 | Safeco Field (SEA) | 0.941 | 20 | Dodger Stadium (LAD) | 0.914 | |
| 21 | Guaranteed Rate Field (CWS) | 0.927 | 21 | Busch Stadium (STL) | 0.901 | |
| 22 | Busch Stadium (STL) | 0.921 | 22 | Tropicana Field (TB) | 0.877 | |
| 23 | Angel Stadium of Anaheim (LAA) | 0.91 | 23 | Minute Main Park (HOU) | 0.822 | |
| 24 | Tropicana Field (TB) | 0.889 | 24 | Wrigley Field (CHC) | 0.819 | |
| 25 | Wrigley Field (CHC) | 0.874 | 25 | PNC Park (PIT) | 0.8 | |
| 26 | Citizens Bank Park (PHI) | 0.84 | 26 | Marlins Park (MIA) | 0.793 | |
| 27 | Marlins Park (MIA) | 0.834 | 27 | Kauffman Stadium (KC) | 0.783 | |
| 28 | Oakland Coliseum (OAK) | 0.829 | 28 | Turner Field (ATL) | 0.77 | |
| 29 | Dodger Stadium (LAD) | 0.813 | 29 | Oakland Coliseum (OAK) | 0.727 | |
| 30 | Minute Maid Park (HOU) | 0.808 | 30 | AT&T Park (SF) | 0.704 | |
*The Atlanta Braves will open SunTrust Park on April 14th, 2017.
**To read the above: A mark over 1.00 can be read as a positive percentage for the offense. As an example, a mark of 1.18 means the park played at a rate that was 18 percent better than the league average. A mark of 0.96 would mean the stadium was four percent below the league average. This table reflects ESPN ratings of the ballpark factors for runs scored in each ballpark.