MLB The Show 26 Multiplayer Program 2 is live with 500K+ value rewards | How to earn them fast?

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• MLB The Show 26 2nd Inning Program Guide | How to get half a million XP in time?

  MLB The Show 26 moves into 2nd Inning, and with it comes a fresh Legend: Victor Martinez. At the same time, 2nd Inning Program went live on April 10, loaded with a wealth of unlockable content.

  2nd Inning Program runs for roughly one month, wrapping up on May 8. You'll need to accumulate 500,000 XP before it concludes in order to claim the full slate of rewards.

  

  2nd Inning Program Reward Path

  • 3,000 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 7,500 XP: World Baseball Classic Gold Pack
  • 12,500 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 17,500 XP: 500 Stubs
  • 22,500 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 30,000 XP: 500 Stubs
  • 37,500 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 45,000 XP: World Baseball Classic Gold Pack
  • 55,000 XP: Deluxe WBC Pack
  • 62,500 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 70,000 XP: Ballin' is a Habit Pack
  • 77,500 XP: 750 Stubs
  • 85,000 XP: World Baseball Classic Gold Pack
  • 92,500 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 100,000 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 110,000 XP: World Baseball Classic Gold Pack
  • 120,000 XP: 750 Stubs
  • 130,000 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 140,000 XP: 91 OVR 2nd Half Rick Ferrell
  • 155,000 XP: 750 Stubs
  • 175,000 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 195,000 XP: Headliners Pack 3
  • 215,000 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 235,000 XP: 1,000 Stubs
  • 255,000 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 275,000 XP: 92 OVR Standout Bobby Doerr
  • 295,000 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 315,000 XP: Ballin' is a Habit Pack
  • 335,000 XP: World Baseball Classic Premier Pack
  • 355,000 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 400,000 XP: 1,500 Stubs
  • 425,000 XP: Deluxe New Threads Pack
  • 450,000 XP: MLB The Show 26 pack
  • 475,000 XP: 2,000 Stubs
  • 500,000 XP: 2nd Inning Boss Choice Pack

  Among 2nd Inning Program rewards, you'll also snag two mini-bosses at no extra cost beyond the XP grind - 92 OVR Bobby Doerr and 91 OVR Rick Ferrell - alongside the usual assortment of packs and MLB The Show 26 stubs.

  When you reach the final Boss Choice Pack, you'll pick one of two featured Bosses. While the total number of cards on offer isn't as hefty as last Inning, the new Legend addition is still one to keep an eye on.

  How to Make Progress?

  2nd Inning Program is a marathon, not a sprint. There's no secret shortcut to racking up XP instantly. Generally speaking, staying active across different game modes will keep the XP flowing. On top of that, there are specific tasks that grant bonus XP:

  • Tally 500 PXP using Cornerstone series players (2,500 XP)
  • Secure 20 wins in Conquest Mode on any difficulty (3,500 XP)
  • Record 50 total bases in Weekend Classic and/or Solo/Co-op Ranked play (5,000 XP)
  • Launch 15 home runs across any mode on any difficulty (5,000 XP)
  • Strike out 50 batters on any difficulty (5,000 XP)

  2nd Inning Program Player Cards

  Let's take a look at the four players you'll encounter in the 2nd Inning Program.

  91 OVR 2nd Half Rick Ferrell

  • Contact Right: 109
  • Contact Left: 85
  • Power Right: 66
  • Power Left: 46
  • Vision: 112
  • Discipline: 101
  • Clutch: 100
  • Bunt: 74
  • Drag Bunt: 70
  • Durability: 87

  Plenty of baseball fans might not recognize the name Rick Ferrell. He was active back in the 1930s, an era where power wasn't exactly the calling card of anyone not named Babe Ruth or Joe DiMaggio, and that reality is reflected right here in his attributes.

  Power concerns aside, the rest of the card holds up nicely. He's a right-handed hitter with an absolute cannon behind the plate, giving him serious ability to shut down would-be base stealers. His swing motion remains a mystery, but there's definitely some value to be found in this one.

  92 OVR Standout Bobby Doerr

  • Contact Right: 101
  • Contact Left: 85
  • Power Right: 65
  • Power Left: 80
  • Vision: 101
  • Discipline: 83
  • Clutch: 102
  • Bunt: 76
  • Drag Bunt: 73
  • Durability: 92

  Bobby Doerr's primary home is at second base, where his defensive ratings are quite solid. He can also hold his own at shortstop or even step over to first base without looking out of place. The only real question mark here - again, owing to how long ago he played - is the quality of his swing animation.

  92 OVR Contributor Babe Ruth

  • Contact Right: 95
  • Contact Left: 90
  • Power Right: 90
  • Power Left: 101
  • Vision: 70
  • Discipline: 114
  • Clutch: 95
  • Bunt: 66
  • Drag Bunt: 61
  • Durability: 83

  One notable perk with this Babe Ruth is his secondary position at first base. That flexibility matters because his defensive metrics aren't anything to write home about. If you'd rather not stick him out in the outfield, you can stash him at first and call it a day. His swing is silky smooth, and all around, this is a strong card.

  92 OVR 2nd Half Heroes Randy Johnson

  • H/9 Right: 75
  • H/9 Left: 109
  • K/9 Right: 77
  • K/9 Left: 85
  • Control: 79
  • Pitch Clutch: 92
  • Stamina: 106
  • Velocity: 99
  • Break: 99
  • Stuff: 87
  • HR/9: 67
  • BB/9: 79

  Even without Outlier Quirks, Randy Johnson can still bring the heat up to 100 mph. His pitch mix includes:

  • Slider
  • Splitter
  • Slurve
  • Sinker
  • 4-Seam Fastball

  The two-seamer used to be a weak spot for Randy, but having the sinker in the arsenal flips the script entirely. His per-nine stats against right-handed batters aren't ideal, but he's lights out against lefties (backed by that 92 Clutch rating), and his stamina is more than enough to go deep. Pair that with his unique delivery and pitch selection, and Randy Johnson is going to be an absolute nightmare to face.

   

  The most efficient path to XP is simply staying in the lineup and playing. Those tasks tend to check themselves off naturally as you go. Also, if you happen to have two Boss cards from 1st Inning Program, you can squeeze out a bit of additional XP from that as well.

• MLB The Show 26 Top 10 Teams Full Ratings and Roster Breakdown | A few of these contenders look completely lost

  The player ratings in MLB The Show 26 reflect individual strengths and weaknesses, and team ratings tell a similar story. Clubs with higher overall numbers offer a decent snapshot of which squads are positioned as the most formidable in 2026. It stands to reason that the eventual World Series champion is very likely to emerge from this top tier.

  Based on the composite team ratings in MLB The Show 26, here are the 10 highest-rated clubs heading into the season.

  

  1. Los Angeles Dodgers

  • Roster: 80.7
  • Rotation: 89.0
  • Bullpen: 75.5
  • Power: 67.2
  • Contact: 73.3
  • Speed: 51.2
  • Farm: 63

  Dodgers roster is stacked with star power - Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and the list goes on. From the lineup and the bench all the way through the bullpen, there are virtually no glaring holes. This is arguably the most talent-laden group in Major League Baseball, and plenty of fans are genuinely wondering who is supposed to take them down this year. Dodgers also require the most MLB The Show 26 stubs of any team if you wanted to build a complete Dodgers team within Diamond Dynasty.

  The club made key additions over the winter, though the early going has seen some uneven performances. Newcomers Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker wasted no time making an impact in the season's opening series. Even so, the offense has yet to find a consistent rhythm.

  2. Philadelphia Phillies

  • Roster: 75.7
  • Rotation: 78.5
  • Bullpen: 69.6
  • Power: 64.1
  • Contact: 71.2
  • Speed: 63.7
  • Farm: 39

  Anchored by 90 OVR Zack Wheeler, Phillies boast a formidable rotation. They also have plenty of capable options when it comes to putting the ball in play and moving on the bases.

  That said, the early part of the season has exposed some sloppy defense and an offense that occasionally goes missing - they were held hitless through five innings in one particularly rough stretch. A portion of the fanbase is already feeling a bit uneasy, though history suggests this is a group that tends to flip the switch once October approaches.

  3. New York Mets

  • Roster: 78.0
  • Rotation: 82.2
  • Bullpen: 73.2
  • Power: 70.8
  • Contact: 69.6
  • Speed: 52.0
  • Farm: 52

  On paper, Mets have a high-end pitching staff, but the results have been shaky to start the year, as they stumbled into an early losing skid. Injuries have been a recurring issue, Francisco Lindor has looked off his usual form, and the entire offensive unit has yet to generate much sustained pressure.

  4. Atlanta Braves

  • Roster: 77.1
  • Rotation: 70.8
  • Bullpen: 73.8
  • Power: 58.6
  • Contact: 64.2
  • Speed: 42.0
  • Farm: 55

  Despite carrying the weight of injury concerns that have lingered over the franchise for several seasons, Braves have looked steady out of the gate. They posted a 3-2 mark across their first five contests. The starting rotation has outperformed early expectations, and Matt Olson is seeing the ball extremely well, delivering consistent production and notching multiple hits in several games. Ronald Acuña Jr. has also contributed with both a home run and a stolen base.

  5. Boston Red Sox

  • Roster: 76.7
  • Rotation: 84.6
  • Bullpen: 71.5
  • Power: 60.4
  • Contact: 67.8
  • Speed: 65.2
  • Farm: 49

  The early returns in Boston have been rough, despite the presence of highly-rated arms like 90 OVR Sonny Gray and 85 OVR Garrett Crochet. The club matched its worst record ever through the first ten games of a season and found itself at the bottom of the league standings. A silver lining came when Ranger Suárez tossed six scoreless innings against Cardinals to earn his first victory in a Red Sox uniform, offering a momentary halt to the slide.

  6. Seattle Mariners

  • Roster: 76.9
  • Rotation: 85.6
  • Bullpen: 71.6
  • Power:65.7
  • Contact: 69.9
  • Speed: 49.4
  • Farm: 42

  The starting rotation remains Mariners' biggest weapon, but a lineup-wide power outage has severely undermined the win-loss column. The offense has been a glaring weakness, posting a team batting average of just .184 en route to a 4-9 start.

  Despite the grim opening stretch, a significant portion of the fanbase remains optimistic. The prevailing sentiment is that if the bats can warm up even a little, this team is still very much in the conversation for AL West title.

  7. New York Yankees

  • Roster: 76.0
  • Rotation: 81.0
  • Bullpen: 68.9
  • Power:73.5
  • Contact: 66.2
  • Speed: 48.3
  • Farm: 61

  Yankees' pitching staff looked dominant during the opening days, with newcomer Max Fried turning in strong performances and the rotation establishing a rhythm. However, the first week of April brought a sharp reversal of fortune, including a five-game losing streak and a demoralizing sweep at the hands of Red Sox in a key early-season series.

  8. Chicago Cubs

  • Roster: 77.2
  • Rotation: 80.7
  • Bullpen: 71.8
  • Power: 65.4
  • Contact: 68.9
  • Speed: 63.0
  • Farm: 50

  Cubs' roster looks potent enough to cruise past 90 wins and run away with NL Central, but the reality on the field has been a struggle. There is, however, a vein of promising young talent on this squad. If and when they settle into a groove, there could be some eye-catching results later in the year.

  9. Texas Rangers

  • Roster: 73.9
  • Rotation: 82.7
  • Bullpen: 66.7
  • Power: 62.8
  • Contact: 63.3
  • Speed: 59.1
  • Farm: 44

  Texas turned in a respectable record on their season-opening road trip, with both the offense and starting rotation showing positive signs. The bullpen, however, remains a recurring headache when it comes to locking down the final outs. The team is guided by a veteran core, but because the front office didn't add any major difference-makers over the offseason, there is a palpable lack of long-term confidence surrounding the club.

  10. Pittsburgh Pirates

  • Roster: 73.3
  • Rotation: 80.1
  • Bullpen: 69.1
  • Power: 57.7
  • Contact: 66.7
  • Speed: 63.2
  • Farm: 41

  Paul Skenes (90 OVR) had a forgettable Opening Day outing but bounced back nicely with his April work. Meanwhile, rookie Konnor Griffin (90 OVR) turned heads with a stellar Major League debut. While Pirates may not rank among the elite in MLB The Show 26, this is a team with serious upside.

  These rankings may change due to shifts in team performance and official adjustments, but this uncertainty is part of the fun of the sport, both in games and in real life.

• Is MLB The Show 26 First Weekend Classic worth your time? Bernie Williams vs. Victor Martinez

  As the fourth weekend since its launch arrives, MLB The Show 26 has finally rolled out its first Weekend Classic event! This also marks the conclusion of the previous Ranked Season cycle.

  Given that Weekend Classic is a limited-time event, and you may be busy completing other in-game challenges or attending to real-world work, the primary factor in deciding whether to participate is whether the rewards are worth the effort.

  In this guide, we will walk you through the gameplay mechanics of MLB 26 Weekend Classic and provide an in-depth analysis of the two available player card rewards.

  

  Event schedule

  MLB 26 Weekend Classic: Week 1 officially began on the afternoon of April 10th and will run until April 14th. Although nominally a weekend event, you actually have approximately 96 hours to play.

  This event typically launches at the conclusion of each Ranked Season cycle; you can think of it as a comprehensive, upgraded finale to Ranked Season. Week 2 is not expected to begin for at least another two weeks.

  However, the game may occasionally schedule additional Weekend Classic events to coincide with specific major real-world baseball matchups. If you don't want to miss out on any of them, be sure to keep a close eye on the schedule.

  How to play Weekend Classic?

  In essence, Weekend Classic is a limited-time competitive event embedded within Diamond Dynasty, one of MLB The Show 26's core game modes. It requires you to utilize your own custom Diamond Dynasty roster to compete in 1v1 ranked matches.

  The first six games you play in the event are crucial. MLB 26 uses your performance, specifically your Solo Season Ranked rating, to assign you to a specific tier. These tiers range from lowest to highest: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Immortal.

  Subsequently, based on your assigned tier, the game places you into a small leaderboard group of 100 players, where you must play additional games to improve your rating.

  At the conclusion of the event, the top 10 players on each leaderboard receive additional rewards.

  Weekend Classic follows a best-of-six format; rewards are distributed based on your total number of wins, while your final tier placement is locked in based on the highest rank you achieved.

  Furthermore, for every game you win during those initial six matches, you will immediately receive a corresponding reward, such as a card pack or MLB 26 stubs.

  Additionally, each installment of Weekend Classic features a unique Choice Pack reward option. Taking this week as an example, you have the opportunity to earn Weekend Classic Choice Pack for Week 1, which contains two cards from which you can select one.

  Week 1 unique reward analysis

  The two options available in this week's choice pack are 2nd Half Bernie Williams and Postseason Victor Martinez. Both cards carry an overall rating of 92, so you might be unsure which one is the better choice.

  2nd Half Bernie Williams

  Bernie Williams is a renowned player formerly of New York Yankees. Although he retired from professional baseball long ago, and has even since focused on a music career, in MLB 26, you can still catch a glimpse of the brilliance he displayed in his prime.

  The specific attributes for his reward card are as follows:

  • Speed: 65
  • Steal: 45
  • Fielding: 60
  • Reaction (Jump): 61
  • Forward: 67
  • Backward: 52
  • Right: 60
  • Left: 65
  • Arm Strength: 68
  • Arm Accuracy: 60
  • Sac Bunt: 35
  • Drag Bunt: 25
  • Quirks: 6 total

  Unfortunately, judging by the actual statistics, this card's speed and fielding abilities are quite mediocre.

  Let alone serving as a starting outfielder, even positioning him in a corner outfield spot carries a risk of conceding runs, unless, of course, you assign him to Designated Hitter (DH) role.

  This arrangement is currently the only way to effectively utilize 2nd Half Bernie Williams at the plate; however, you could just as easily opt to use other switch-hitting batters you already possess.

  Therefore, all things considered, this player card is worth acquiring; however, if you already own players with similar capabilities, it may prove to be somewhat redundant.

  Postseason Victor Martinez

  First, let's take a look at the stats for this reward card:

  • Contact vs RHP: 100
  • Contact vs LHP: 92
  • Vision: 90
  • Clutch: 109
  • Power vs. RHP: 80
  • Power vs. LHP: 70
  • Speed: 44
  • Steal: 0
  • Fielding: 73
  • Blocking: 72
  • Pop Time: 76
  • Reaction (Jump): Forward 74, Backward 62, Right 66, Left 76
  • Arm Strength: 75
  • Arm Accuracy: 80
  • Sac Bunt: 35
  • Drag Bunt: 25
  • Quirks: 8 total

  Although Victor Martinez himself is not a newcomer, this marks his debut as a legend player in MLB game series; consequently, it is currently difficult to provide a sufficiently detailed review regarding the actual in-game experience.

  However, based on the available stats, if you are looking to acquire a better catcher, Postseason Victor Martinez is certainly worth a try.

  Based on the points mentioned above, and if a direct comparison is absolutely necessary, we would recommend choosing Postseason Victor Martinez, as he offers greater versatility.

  That covers the key information you need to know for this week's Weekend Classic. We hope this helps enhance your MLB 26 experience!

• MLB The Show 26 Online Mode is being ruined by inflated scores | Is the new PCI hitting meta broken?

  While offline modes offer greater stability, many MLB The Show 26 players habitually opt for online modes to experience the thrill of competitive virtual baseball and earn 1.5x PXP.

  Awkwardly, the online mode seems to have encountered some issues recently; you may notice that in-game scores appear abnormally inflated, completely out of step with reality.

  Purely from a player experience standpoint, this phenomenon likely won't have a major impact on the game's core mechanics in the short term. However, what if this is actually a symptom of a deeper underlying imbalance?

  In this article, we will first introduce MLB 26 online modes, then address this specific issue, and finally speculate on its potential causes and solutions.

  

  What are MLB 26 online modes?

  MLB The Show 26 primarily features Diamond Dynasty, Road to the Show, and Franchise modes; however, based on their specific gameplay mechanics and operational requirements, these can be broadly categorized into either offline or online modes.

  Currently, the term MLB 26 online modes most commonly refers to Big Zone hitting and Bear Down pitching mechanics found within Diamond Dynasty. Furthermore, progress in many popular programs is contingent upon playing in online modes.

  Ranked Seasons

  This mode is a component of DD that allows you to climb the ranks through online head-to-head matchups, unlocking rewards such as MLB 26 stubs or rare player cards and packs.

  Ranked Seasons matches feature varying difficulty levels that scale up as your rank improves, ensuring you continue to earn increasingly valuable rewards as you progress.

  Even more exciting is that MLB 26 supports 2v2 and 3v3 matchups, meaning you can team up with friends to compete and earn rewards together.

  Battle Royale

  Often abbreviated as BR, this mode is a high-stakes, 3-inning online draft competition. The objective is to draft a team from a randomly generated pool of players and then achieve 12 victories before suffering two losses.

  MLB The Show 26 has completely revamped the reward system for this mode: if you manage to go 12-0 and achieve a perfect run, you stand a chance to win a voucher worth up to 50,000 stubs!

  More specifically, prior to every match, you must participate in a draft to select your players, with player ratings spanning five distinct tiers. In other words, for every event you enter, you will assemble a unique and one-of-a-kind roster.

  We generally recommend prioritizing the selection of powerful hitters while also focusing on building a deep bullpen, as pitcher stamina drains extremely quickly during the fast-paced, three-inning format of these matches.

  Furthermore, when building your roster, you should strive for balance, incorporating top-tier diamond players alongside consistent-performing silver or gold players.

  Event Programs

  Programs have always been a core component of MLB game series. This is especially true in the months following the game's launch, once the initial novelty begins to fade, when new programs serve as the primary means of retaining player engagement.

  MLB 26 has revamped this mechanism, adopting an Event Program structure wherein each limited-time program features its own distinct reward path and exclusive player cards.

  Typically, the missions within a single program involve using specific players to execute particular actions, or achieving certain milestones in other game modes. Some of the currently popular programs include:

  • Egg Hunt
  • Swinging into Spring
  • April Spotlight Drop 1
  • Common Courtesy

  Issues with online modes

  Although MLB The Show 26 offers you the opportunity to participate in baseball games in a purely virtual format, it consistently strives to replicate the real world as closely as possible, from its gameplay mechanics to its in-game audio and visuals.

  Consequently, in previous online matchups, the final scores at the conclusion of a game were calculated based on realistic baseball logic. However, the game has recently begun to suffer from a problem known as stat inflation.

  More specifically, in online modes, particularly at lower difficulty settings, it has become far too easy to achieve elite-level hitting performance, resulting in artificially inflated final scores. As a result, the experience of playing as a pitcher has been significantly undermined.

  While this might appear to make earning rewards easier, a game is about more than just rewards; ultimately, it is about whether the experience itself is enjoyable.

  What is causing the problem?

  On the surface, the stat inflation appears to stem from an overly lenient hit-detection window for Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI); this makes it much easier for players to execute their desired swings and generate high-scoring results.

  Delving deeper, some players speculate that this may simply be a temporary imbalance resulting from various recent tuning adjustments made by MLB development team.

  Others, however, hold a more pessimistic view, suggesting that the issue lies within the game's fundamental underlying architecture.

  In fact, due to adjustments made to core mechanics, several recent installments of MLB The Show series have tended to inadvertently compromise the effectiveness of pitching during the early stages of the game's lifecycle.

  Consequently, pitchers with a lower OVR typically lack the capability to effectively contend with batters.

  While you can attempt to disrupt a batter's rhythm by utilizing a diverse pitch mix, advancing to higher competitive tiers remains a significant challenge.

  That said, we cannot entirely rule out the possibility that deeper underlying game mechanics are at play; however, based on the current situation, issues related to PCI appear to be the primary culprit.

  Given this, the most effective solution would naturally be to adjust PCI's hit detection parameters, specifically by reducing the contact zone for batters in lower-difficulty online modes.

  If the situation fails to improve even after such adjustments, MLB 26 development team will truly need to take more drastic measures!

  That wraps up everything we have to share with you for now. If the issue of inflated scores is a major concern for you, consider switching to offline modes for the time being, they offer just as much fun!

• MLB The Show 26 Legends and Flashbacks Collection Preparation Guide | Don't waste your stubs on these cards

  MLB The Show 26 has a packed schedule in April, but for most players, the biggest goal of the month will probably be the massive Legends and Flashbacks collection event on April 24. Some players believe this collection is only for whales, but that's actually a misunderstanding.

  Completing this large collection is certainly no easy task. Let's take a look at where you should be at this stage, what kind of preparation you'll need to make the most of Legends and Flashbacks collection event on April 24, and help you set realistic expectations.

  

  Live Series

  If you want to complete Legends and Flashbacks collection but haven't finished Live Series yet, you're probably falling behind. In that case, you might end up needing to sink a huge number of game stubs into acquiring obscure cards you'll never use, and the total cost could end up being higher than just finishing Live Series outright.

  In fact, if you go ahead and complete Live Series, the stubs you'll need are roughly the same as what you'd spend on those obscure player cards through direct trades. Plus, you'll get all the rewards from the current player series along with those legend cards. So you should prioritize finishing Live Series first.

  Jolt Series

  Collecting Jolt Series also gets you a voucher to use in Legends and Flashbacks collection on April 24. You'll need to collect 30 cards from this series. They can't be traded for with MLB The Show 26 stubs. If you've put in a lot of playtime, this voucher shouldn't be much trouble for you.

  Team Affinity Series

  Every player should be able to get this voucher. The requirement is simply completing half the workload of Team Affinity. You don't need to finish everything. You can fully complete 15 teams, or go half-way on all 30 teams, and you'll earn the voucher. With a bit of focused grinding, most players should be close to this goal.

  Spring Breakout Series

  Most players should have already finished Spring Breakout program. It's a fairly enjoyable program. Not only is 90 OVR Konnor Griffin an excellent free card, but the whole process is completely free as long as you run through Conquest map and complete the program. Right now, these player cards have risen to around 22,000 stubs on the market, so there's no need to trade for them at the moment.

  New Threads Series

  New Threads series is a bit tougher than the others. You'll need to collect 23 cards from this series to get 91 OVR Bo Bichette. Excluding the free players from New Threads program, you might still need around 100,000 stubs to gather enough New Threads series players.

  World Baseball Classic Series

  World Baseball Classic series will be the most important and most costly part of Legends and Flashbacks collection at this stage. You'll need to collect a large number of cards from this series and obtain 94 OVR Maikel Garcia.

  Most of the cards in this series are tradable, but you can't predict which ones will go up or down in value. The most valuable card in the set is currently close to 10,000 stubs.

  However, if you already have Maikel Garcia, the other cards aren't really necessary. Even if you hold onto more cards, the game won't retroactively increase the number you need to collect.

  Also, in the past, the developers have implemented a retroactive mechanism that allowed players to earn previous season's World Series reward cards by reaching World Series again or through multiplayer programs. So it's wise to be cautious with these cards, but holding onto them early isn't a bad thing either.

  XP Path Reward Cards

  Some XP Path reward cards aren't particularly valuable. Yoshinobu Yamamoto even dropped to 7,000 stubs at one point, but now his value is recovering. You can collect these cards because they may not appear in future XP Path events, and they are generally necessary for Legends and Flashbacks collection quests.

  All-Star Series

  All-Star series players are also quite valuable. However, as more Chase packs are released, more All-Star player cards may appear on the market, so their value will drop. If you're not in a hurry, you can wait a bit.

  Contributor Series

  Contributor series was a sticking point last year because there were very few cards. In MLB 26, it seems to have grown a bit, but many of these cards are either free program cards or top-tier current player series rewards. So you'll still need to complete the current player series.

  Second Half Heroes Series

  94 OVR Manny Ramirez and 92 OVR David Wright cards themselves are quite valuable. You might need 1 million stubs to get these cards, because you'll need Shohei Ohtani, other diamond cards from Los Angeles Dodgers, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and so on.

  Postseason Series

  In the Postseason series, Roy Campanella will be a tough one. If the game requires you to own every card in that series, and you also have to complete National League Series (NLS) within Live Series, that will be very difficult because currently there are no other cards in that series.

  Veteran Series

  In Veteran series, Andrew Miller is currently the only card tradable on the market. If his value rises too much, you can consider skipping him.

  As an overall theme, the game usually lets you skip one entire series category. You'll need to decide based on your ability to complete the rest of the collection. Also, Legends and Flashbacks collection event doesn't require you to finish it on launch day. These cards are extremely high quality, and while getting them sooner is better, for ordinary players, completing the event within a month or two after it goes live is perfectly reasonable.

• MLB The Show 26 Franchise Mode guide: How to master the new trade features and AI management system?

  If you find yourself temporarily weary of the fast-paced competition in MLB The Show 26 and are looking to take a breather, Franchise Mode, one of the game's core gameplay pillars, makes for an excellent choice.

  While this doesn't mean the mode doesn't require your serious attention, it does allow you to take things at your own pace; after all, developing a team is a gradual, step-by-step process.

  More importantly, compared to its predecessors, MLB The Show 26 introduces several commendable improvements to Franchise Mode. Below, we present a comprehensive guide to help you get started with this feature.

  

  Franchise Mode overview

  As you may already know, the core modes in MLB The Show titles over recent years have primarily consisted of Diamond Dynasty, Road to the Show, Franchise, and Storylines.

  Among these, Diamond Dynasty focuses on the competitive virtual baseball experience itself; Storylines introduces you to legendary players; while RTTS and Franchise focus specifically on the development of a single player versus an entire team, respectively.

  Building on this foundation, Franchise Mode casts you, more specifically, in the role of a Team General Manager, granting you complete control over every aspect of a team's operations. From player trades to training regimens, every decision rests in your hands.

  Common gameplay scenarios requiring your decision-making include:

  • Roster Management: Managing your lineup and depth chart based on player availability and current form.
  • Salary Management: Overseeing the team payroll and deciding whether to sign big-name superstars or rely on utility players to conserve your budget.
  • Scouting & Drafting: Utilizing the scouting system to identify high-potential prospects and selecting them during the annual draft held every July.
  • Player Development: Enhancing your players' various attributes through tailored training programs.
  • Coaching Staff: Hiring the right coaches for different positions to accelerate player growth and boost on-field performance.

  How to play Franchise Mode efficiently?

  To experience a single season of Franchise Mode in its entirety, you would typically need to play through at least 160 team games.

  While investing more time allows you to intervene more frequently, thereby potentially boosting your win percentage, you likely won't have the luxury of that much free time.

  Therefore, the first step is to determine your level of engagement based on your personal gaming schedule:

  • Full Control: Manually play every single game yourself, using your personal skills to influence the outcome of as many matchups as possible.
  • Quick Sim: Rapidly simulate through games, jumping in only during critical moments or key situations.
  • Text-Based Simulation: Issue tactical commands via a text-based play-by-play interface, with the option to jump into live gameplay whenever the situation demands it.
  • Rotation: Alternate between playing games manually and simulating them to strike a balance between hands-on control and time efficiency. Play one game manually while simulating five others to ensure that all five starting pitchers get a turn in the rotation, or simply choose to play only the first game of each week.

  Once you have your time management down, the next step is to strategically handle player signings and contract renewals.

  For instance, by locking down long-term contracts for young core players early on to ensure you have a more robust budget available in the future.

  When selecting players for different positions, while powerful sluggers may grab the spotlight, if you intend to play through multiple seasons, elite-level pitchers and defensive specialists will prove far more valuable over the course of a long campaign.

  Finally, before recruiting new players, don't forget to pay attention to your scouting director and coaching staff; their capabilities will ultimately determine whether the rookies you select can successfully fill future gaps in your roster.

  

  Changes in MLB 26

  Beyond simply leading your team on the field, effective day-to-day management requires a firm grasp of various granular features, an area that MLB 26 has specifically optimized.

  First up is Trade Hub within Franchise Mode, a one-stop control center where you can view and manage all trade-related matters.

  MLB 26 introduces a centralized trade workbench to Trade Hub, now allowing you to track trade targets, transfer rumors, and other relevant information in real-time.

  Furthermore, the addition of Trade Delay System means that trades no longer need to be finalized instantly.

  You can now dictate the pace of trade negotiations based on your team's market size, current standings, and future strategic direction, even facilitating massive deals involving up to four players on each side.

  To help you better assess player potential, and thus decide who to keep, who to let go, and who to prioritize for development, MLB The Show 26 introduces Potential Ratings, grading players on a scale from A to F.

  Leveraging the widespread application of AI technology, MLB 26 has also enriched the customization options within Franchise Mode.

  You can now tailor your level of involvement to your personal preferences; if you don't want to sink too much time into administrative tasks, you can simply delegate various responsibilities directly to AI.

  

  Pitfalls to avoid

  To offer you greater freedom within the game, MLB 26 allows you to fully customize your roster. Since a player's Potential rating is one of the primary factors determining a roster's overall strength, you might be tempted to set this value artificially high.

  The catch, however, is that if you intend to play through multiple seasons in Franchise Mode, this practice could inadvertently undermine your long-term enjoyment of the mode.

  The reason for this is that, over the long term, specifically by the time you reach the final seasons, OVR of players throughout the entire league will become inflated.

  Virtually every team would end up fielding multiple MVP-caliber players, a scenario that defies realistic logic and runs counter to the original design intent of this game mode.

  Of course, if you don't mind this outcome, you are free to proceed in that manner. However, to ensure a balanced and realistic gaming experience, we recommend taking a more gradual and measured approach when customizing player potential ratings.

  That concludes everything we have to share with you for now. We hope you'll soon be able to build your very own dream team in Franchise Mode!