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MLB 15 The Show: Diamond Dynasty Ratings Boost Predictions (6/21/15)
 
We're wrapping up another week in the Diamond Dynasty universe, and the only card pack released over the weekend was the K's For Days pack, which included a mix of all types of pitchers racking up strikeouts this year. Fans seem to generally approve of this pack, and it does have a solid name to go along with a relatively affordable price tag of 10K Stubs. With that being said, it's time to look ahead once again and try to predict who might be getting a ratings boost Monday morning.
 
I'll be breaking the predictions into tiers based on my own confidence level.

Ratings Boost Probability: High

-Todd Frazier - "Mr.Frazier could you stop hitting so many home runs?" signed the rest of the NL Central. The Reds might be mediocre, but Frazier is just a terror. He's got average and power so what's not to like, especially over the last week?

-Nolan Arenado - Arenado got boosted not long ago, and while RBIs are not the stat you should use to say how good somebody has been, having 34 of them in one month is still a bit nuts. Either way, he's a great defender with a good offensive profile, and those guys I tend to think always have room to grow.

-Manny Machado - When compared against Arenado, it's been a couple extra week since Machado's last boost. Still, these guys are similar to me in many ways in that they're all-around players at third base. So my reasoning is the same for both these guys.

-Billy Burns - Burns got a huge boost in the 6/8 roster update, but he's still continuing to be a speed demon who gets on base and plays great defense. I feel like even with the massive upgrade a couple weeks back he should still get some more boost love. 

-George Springer - I'm continuing to be a little risky here and choose guys who have already gotten ratings boosts this month, but Springer is another that seems due. Youth, speed, power, defense and now he's hitting for average this month as well. 

-Chris Sale - I've pushed for a Sale upgrade the last couple weeks, and usually when I do that it means the player won't get a boost until the week I finally stop (see: Dozier, Brian). Still, he's got 75 strikeouts in his last 45 innings pitched. Give this Diamond some love!

Ratings Boost Probability: Moderate

-Jason Grilli - Grilli has one of the most unintentionally funny and eye-rolling autobiographies of all time, but he's still been a really good closer this season so I have to give him credit where it's due.

-Cameron Maybin - He hasn't shown a ton of home run power, but sticking with the theme of all-around players who got an upgrade not too long ago, Maybin is another player who I think is under valued right now.

-Kenley Jansen - I'll continue to push for a Jansen upgrade as well. There's not many relievers you want to see less than Jansen, and he's been so good since he came back from injury.

-Kevin Pillar - The Jays are getting production from everywhere, but maybe their best hitter as of late is Pillar.

-Giancarlo Stanton - Stanton's numbers over the last month are just dumb. He's obviously already a Diamond, but if there's upgrades to be had, he should probably get them. 

-Max Scherzer - The no-no happened on Saturday so I don't think that will be taken into account. Still, even before that performance Scherzer had been dominant. Again, with Diamonds it's hard to know when upgrades will happen, but it seems wrong to not at least put Scherzer here.

Ratings Boost Probability: Low

-Mitch Moreland - I always like seeing guys who have stuck around having these type of surges. He's been a great hitter for Texas as of late and deserves some attention.

-Brett Gardner - Gardner has gotten a couple upgrades in recent roster updates and now is on the verge of being a Gold. I'm not sure if this will be the week he goes Gold, but he's shown power to go with the usual speed and on-base skills.

-Josh Donaldson - Folks have been expecting an upgrade for Donaldson that has not happened to this point, but maybe this is finally the week. He was actually hitting better a couple weeks back, but this might fit with the trend of roster updates being a week or two behind the results. 

-Carlos Correa - So we have almost no MLB at-bats to go off of at this point, but does anyone really think Correa isn't going to be a star? 

-Charlie Morton - I'm ending this with four Pirates players because, the Nationals series aside, they have been one of the hottest teams in baseball in the midst of a wild stretch of insane pitching. Morton has put up a million groundouts and been very good across the board since his return from the DL.

-Francisco Liriano - The whole Pirates rotation has been good as of late, but Liriano might have the most impressive numbers on the staff over the last 30 days, which is saying something. 

-Starling Marte - Marte has gotten plenty of love throughout the year, but he's still one of the purest versions of speed and power in baseball, which is usually a way to keep getting ratings boosts.

-Mark Melancon - Melancon just got a boost last week, but still he was leading the league in saves when the weekend began, and he has not given up an earned run in over a month.


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Member Comments
# 1 E0910 @ 06/21/15 01:52 PM
I think Sale will definitely get an upgrade to go mid diamond. 94-95 tops. I believe if not this week, then next week Joc Pederson will get an upgrade too, but it'll be his fielding that gets him into the gold status. Hopefully Wacha gets a small boost up too. Maybe Cole will get another upgrade this or next week since he won his 11th game this past week.
 
# 2 ronc524 @ 06/21/15 02:24 PM
Arenado has been gold since launch. He was a loyalty reward to me I couldn't sell so he has been in my lineup since day 1
 
# 3 theu715 @ 06/21/15 03:14 PM
How about Joey Butler??? The guy is hitting .336 since getting called up this year. Not saying it should be a lot, but he's got the highest average on the Rays by a long shot. Another guy is Kevin Keirmaier. He's got speed ratings and aggressiveness ratings that are stupid low for him. He's one of the fastest players you'll find and is ultra aggressive. He's just learning how to steal bases at this level, but has 7 since mid May I believe. These guys aren't likely to happen though because they aren't big names. Just some thoughts from a biased Rays fan!
 
# 4 johnlnames @ 06/21/15 05:36 PM
My bet this week is a boost from Shawn tolleson and billy burns. Burns could arguably be the leading candidate for ROY and tolleson has been lights out since taking over the closer role.
 
# 5 MetsFan16 @ 06/21/15 05:50 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronc524
Arenado has been gold since launch. He was a loyalty reward to me I couldn't sell so he has been in my lineup since day 1
You cant sell your Loyalty Cards anyway
 
# 6 ronc524 @ 06/21/15 06:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetsFan16
You cant sell your Loyalty Cards anyway
That's what I said.
 
# 7 MetsFan16 @ 06/21/15 06:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronc524
That's what I said.
My bad, misread it
 

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