The MLB season begins today, and many people have already begun their virtual seasons in MLB The Show 19. The Diamond Dynasty game mode allows users to acquire cards and play them like stocks, buying low or selling high while crafting a team. These nine guys (one from each position) are prime buy-low candidates to acquire at little cost before their ratings hopefully make big jumps throughout the season.
SP: Cole Hamels (78)
Cole Hamels hasn’t been great statistically in recent years while pitching for the Rangers in hitter-friendly Texas, but the veteran lefty posted a 2.36 ERA in 12 games for the Cubs after Chicago traded for him last season. While Hamels might not be in the Cy Young conversation in 2019, his rating could certainly take a double-digit jump. Everyone should target him as one of the first things they do in Diamond Dynasty.
C: Yadier Molina (82)
Catcher isn’t a very deep position, but Yadier Molina could easily be rated into the 85-88 range at some point this season. The veteran remains one of the better fielding backstops in the game, and he has both solid contact and power coming off a 20-homer season in 2018.
1B: Daniel Murphy (81)
Daniel Murphy might not get back to his 2016-2017 form when he slashed .347/.390/.595 and .322/.384/.543 for the Nationals, but he could still post strong numbers and get his The Show rating up to the high 80s. Playing first base should help preserve Murphy’s body and keep him healthy, and Coors Field is one of the best hitter’s parks in baseball.
2B: Dee Gordon (79)
Dee Gordon didn’t have a great 2018 season, scoring just 62 runs after scoring 114 the year before in Miami. However, the speedy and versatile second baseman could be more comfortable back at his normal position in his second season with the Mariners. Some of his non-power ratings at the plate could shoot up, and at the very least he’ll give you speed in the lineup or in pinch-run situations.
3B: Maikel Franco (72)
For someone that hit .270 with 22 home runs for an inconsistent Phillies team last season, it’s surprising that Maikel Franco is only rated a 72 in the initial MLB The Show 19 player ratings. Philadelphia’s lineup is now stacked, so it’s not out of the question for Franco to increase his average ten points or so while getting closer to 30 homers.
SS: Carlos Correa (83)
Carlos Correa’s rating might be the most surprising in the game, so he’s a major buy-low guy for Diamond Dynasty. The Astros star has dealt with injuries the last couple of years, but he has huge upside as a power-hitting shortstop. It would be a surprise if Correa’s rating doesn’t go up at least a couple of points by mid-season.
LF: Juan Soto (86)
The 86 rating for Juan Soto is pretty generous for someone that played just 116 games as a rookie last season, but the 20-year-old still has monstrous upside. Soto might push for a season with a .300 average, 100 runs scored, and 100 RBI in 2019, which would easily put him into the 90s for his Diamond Dynasty card.
CF: Odubel Herrera (73)
Odubel Herrera has been an up-and-down performer through four big-league seasons, but he’ll be more of a secondary part of the lineup for the Phillies this season, and less pressure and more protection could mean more consistency. If not, Herrera should get on a hot stretch which increases his rating much higher than the low 70s, and then you can just sell him high when you feel it’s the right time.
RF: Jason Heyward (75)
Jason Heyward is still just 29 years old, and he still has big-time upside—he wouldn’t be the first player to break through in middle of his career. 25+ homers for someone that hasn’t had over 15 in a season since 2012 (when he had 27) might seem lofty, but who knows? If Heyward doesn’t improve his ratings as a hitter, it at least probably won’t go down much if at all—and you know you’ll get great defense and one of the better throwing arms in right field, which is important when trying to throw guys out at third and home in online matchups.
What Odubel 73 is crazy.
Just a heads up Juan Soto is actually an 80 overall on 86