The MLB The Show 26 Cityscape Series has three cards worth real attention: Samuel Basallo, JJ Wetherholt, and Payton Tolle. Basallo is the safest lineup upgrade. Wetherholt has the loudest bat. Tolle is the only pitcher here we'd seriously test in ranked.

The rest? Usable, but replaceable.

• MLB The Show 26 Cityscape Series Card Rankings
• Best MLB The Show 26 Cityscape Hitters
• Samuel Basallo Review: Best Cityscape Series Card
• JJ Wetherholt Review: Best Offensive Upside
• Carson Benge Review: Good Arm, Replaceable Bat
• Best MLB The Show 26 Cityscape Pitchers
• Payton Tolle Review: Best Cityscape Pitcher
• Treya Savage Review: Ratings Look Better Than the Card Plays
• Bubba Chandler Review: Hard Thrower, Hard to Trust
• Best Lineup Setup for Cityscape Series Cards
• Ranked Tips for These MLB The Show 26 Cards
• Hitting Adjustments
• Pitching Adjustments
• FAQ
• Is 96 JJ Wetherholt worth using in MLB The Show 26?
• Is Samuel Basallo the best Cityscape Series card?
• Who is the best Cityscape Series pitcher in MLB The Show 26?
• Should I use Carson Benge in ranked?
• Is Bubba Chandler good in MLB The Show 26?
• Summary

↖ MLB The Show 26 Cityscape Series Card Rankings

Priority order:

Get Basallo first, use Wetherholt if you need a bat at second, and test Tolle if your rotation needs a lefty.

↖ Best MLB The Show 26 Cityscape Hitters

The hitters carry this drop. Basallo and Wetherholt are legit ranked cards. Benge is more niche.

↖ Samuel Basallo Review: Best Cityscape Series Card

Samuel Basallo is the best card in this set because he fills catcher with real offense and strong defense.

Basallo's swing plays. That matters more than the card art.

He produces hard contact, handles both sides, and gives you 99 arm strength behind the plate. In MLB The Show 26, that catcher profile is valuable because most catcher cards make you choose between bat and defense.

Basallo gives you both.

Best use:

• Start him at catcher
• Bat him 4th–6th
• Keep him in vs both righties and lefties
• Prioritize him if your catcher has weak power

Pain point: Most catchers are either slow bats or defensive-only.

Strategy: Use Basallo for middle-order power without giving up arm strength.

Result: Better run production and fewer free steals.

↖ JJ Wetherholt Review: Best Offensive Upside

96 JJ Wetherholt is the flashiest hitter in the Cityscape Series. He has the quirks, clutch, and lefty pop to win games.

Wetherholt is not just a contact second baseman. He has real damage potential.

The key is his quirk package: Dead Red, Unfazed, and Breaking Ball Hitter. That gives him coverage against fastballs and off-speed. If your opponent tunnels sinker/slider all game, Wetherholt can still punish mistakes.

His only real flaw is speed. At second base, that is not a deal-breaker.

Best use:

• Start him at 2B
• Bat him 1st, 2nd, or 5th
• Attack right-handed pitching
• Consider a platoon only if you have an elite righty bench bat

Pain point: Second base often lacks power.

Strategy: Plug Wetherholt in for a lefty bat with clutch and quirks.

Result: More pressure at the top or middle of the order.

↖ Carson Benge Review: Good Arm, Replaceable Bat

Carson Benge is usable, but he does not force his way into stacked lineups.

Benge's best trait is simple: 99 arm strength. Put him in right field and he can stop extra bases.

The bat is where things get shaky. Contact vs lefties is strong, but the power does not scare enough people. In a corner outfield spot, we want damage. Benge gives more defense than thump.

Best use:

• Play him in RF
• Bat him 7th–8th
• Use as a bench option vs lefties
• Avoid forcing him into elite squads

Pain point: Corner outfield bats need pop.

Strategy: Use Benge only if you value defense or need lefty-contact help.

Result: Better throws from RF, but limited offensive ceiling.

↖ Best MLB The Show 26 Cityscape Pitchers

The pitchers are not equal. Payton Tolle is the clear winner. Savage is usable with good sequencing. Chandler is risky.

↖ Payton Tolle Review: Best Cityscape Pitcher

Payton Tolle is the only pitcher here we'd actively recommend trying in ranked.

Tolle works because of the sinker/cutter combo. That is still one of the best ways to jam hitters and create weak contact in MLB The Show 26.

He also has enough control to live on edges. That separates him from Chandler.

How to pitch with Tolle:

• Use sinker inside to jam same-handed hitters
• Use cutter away off the same tunnel
• Elevate the 4-seam after showing movement
• Do not spam low-and-away every two-strike count
• Pitch around elite bats when first base is open

Pain point: Many budget starters lack command.

Strategy: Use Tolle's control and sinker/cutter tunnel.

Result: More weak contact, fewer mistake pitches.

↖ Treya Savage Review: Ratings Look Better Than the Card Plays

Treya Savage has good numbers, but the fastball holds him back.

Savage needs careful sequencing. You cannot just throw fastballs and hope.

His 116 clutch is great with runners in scoring position, but if opponents are seeing the ball, he can struggle to finish at-bats. The lack of premium velocity makes every missed location dangerous.

How to pitch with Savage:

• Pair splitter below the zone with fastballs
• Use slider away to expand
• Mix sinker inside for weak contact
• Pull him early if hitters stop chasing

Verdict: Testable, not dependable.

↖ Bubba Chandler Review: Hard Thrower, Hard to Trust

Bubba Chandler has strong raw tools but plays worse than the numbers suggest.

The problem is command. Chandler can throw hard, but hard contact comes fast when he misses over the plate.

The sinker being buried as a later pitch hurts his feel. His pitch mix has options, but it does not play as cleanly as Tolle's.

How to pitch with Chandler:

• Use fastball up early
• Throw circle change below the zone
• Mix slider/sweeper horizontally
• Avoid relying on the sinker as your main pitch
• Pull him fast if command is off

Verdict: Fine for testing. Not a serious ranked rotation piece.

↖ Best Lineup Setup for Cityscape Series Cards

Best setup:

1. Start Basallo at catcher.

2. Start Wetherholt at second base.

3. Use Benge in right field only if you need defense.

4. Start Tolle before Savage or Chandler.

5. Keep every Cityscape pitcher on a short leash.

↖ Ranked Tips for These MLB The Show 26 Cards

↖ Hitting Adjustments

If you are late inside, stop pretending you will magically catch up. Anchor inside. Make the game easier.

↖ Pitching Adjustments

The rule is simple: if the opponent is squaring everything up by the third inning, go to the bullpen. Do not donate runs for testing.

↖ FAQ

↖ Is 96 JJ Wetherholt worth using in MLB The Show 26?

Yes. 96 JJ Wetherholt is worth using if you need offense at second base. His 100 contact vs RHP, 96 power vs RHP, 101 clutch, and strong quirks make him dangerous in ranked.

↖ Is Samuel Basallo the best Cityscape Series card?

Yes, for most squads. Samuel Basallo gives you catcher value, 106 power vs RHP, 99 arm strength, and a strong swing. That combination is harder to replace than a second baseman or outfielder.

↖ Who is the best Cityscape Series pitcher in MLB The Show 26?

Payton Tolle is the best Cityscape Series pitcher. His 91 control and sinker/cutter mix make him more reliable than Treya Savage or Bubba Chandler.

↖ Should I use Carson Benge in ranked?

Use Carson Benge only if you need 99 arm strength in right field or a bench bat against lefties. His bat is playable, but he is not a must-start card.

↖ Is Bubba Chandler good in MLB The Show 26?

Bubba Chandler has good H/9 and velocity, but his control issues make him risky. He is fine for casual testing, but we would not trust him in high-ranked games.

↖ Summary

The MLB The Show 26 Cityscape Series has three cards worth prioritizing:

Start Basallo. Use Wetherholt. Test Tolle. Treat the rest as optional depth.

That is the cleanest way to get actual value from the MLB The Show 26 Cityscape Series without wasting lineup spots.