This MLB The Show update is packed, and for once, it actually gives us a reason to play several different modes instead of repeating the same grind until our controller starts judging us. The big focus is the new Cityscape Series, but the update also adds a Chase Pack Chapman, fresh Diamond Quest rewards, a new Mini Season, Conquest map, event rewards, and Double XP.

what should we grind first, which cards are actually usable, and where should we avoid wasting stubs? Here's the practical route I'd follow as a player trying to get the most value without blindly locking in cards.

• Best Grind Order for This Update
• Best Cityscape Program Cards
• Ian Happ Is the Main Prize
• Raleigh Fingers Is Worth Using
• J.R. Richard Is Disappointing
• Best Cityscape Pack Cards
• Felix Bautista Is the Best Pack Arm
• Max Muncy Is a Good Power Bat
• Budget Cards Are Sneaky Useful
• Cityscape Collection: Who Is Worth It?
• Clay Buchholz Is the Best Value
• Jimmy Rollins Is Good, Not Essential
• Mickey Mantle Is a Luxury
• Chase Pack Chapman: Worth the Hype?
• Conquest, Mini Seasons, and Diamond Quest
• Mode Rewards
• Richie Sexson
• Mini Seasons Rewards
• Diamond Quest Rewards
• April Showcase Event
• Gameplay Update: Strike Zone and PCI Talk
• No-Money-Spent Strategy
• Best Cards to Target
• FAQ
• What should I grind first in this MLB The Show update?
• Is Ian Happ worth using?
• Is Mickey Mantle worth locking in for?
• Who is the best pitcher from the Cityscape Collection?
• Is Aroldis Chapman worth buying?
• Do I need Carlos Cortes for the April Lightning card?
• Is Diamond Quest worth playing now?
• What is the best no-money-spent move?
• Summary

↖ Best Grind Order for This Update

If you jump straight into random modes, you'll still make progress, but you may waste time. The cleanest route is to unlock free Cityscape cards first, then use them across other missions.

Start with the Cityscape Program because it feeds everything else. Once you have those cards, Mini Seasons and event missions become much easier.

Double XP also makes every mode more valuable right now. If you're chasing XP bosses like Babe Ruth or Randy Johnson, this is the weekend to grind.

↖ Best Cityscape Program Cards

The program has a few useful cards, but not all of them are equal. Some are lineup pieces. Some are binder residents. We've all met those.

↖ Ian Happ Is the Main Prize

Ian Happ is the card I'd build around from this program. He is a switch hitter, can play multiple positions, has solid hitting from both sides, and brings enough speed and defense to stay useful.

If you're dealing with PCI shrinkage or tough same-handed matchups, Happ helps because switch hitters are still extremely valuable this year.

↖ Raleigh Fingers Is Worth Using

Bullpen depth matters more than people admit, especially early in the year. Raleigh Fingers has a strong pitch mix and should play well online if you sequence properly.

If your bullpen is thin, he is not just a collection card. He can actually help.

↖ J.R. Richard Is Disappointing

J.R. Richard should feel scarier than he does. Without Outlier and without a strong changeup-style pitch, he becomes easier to read against good hitters.

At lower levels, he can work. Against strong online players, I would not trust him for long outings.

↖ Best Cityscape Pack Cards

The pack has a lot of cards, but a few stand out as real difference-makers. Others are fine as rentals, especially if their prices drop.

↖ Felix Bautista Is the Best Pack Arm

Felix Bautista is the card I'd fear most from this pack. His mix is nasty:

• Sinker
• Splitter
• Slider
• Four-seam
• Cutter

That pitch mix gives him real online value. It is not just about velocity. It is about tunneling, movement, and forcing bad swings.

If his price comes down, he is one of the best buys from the update.

↖ Max Muncy Is a Good Power Bat

Muncy has big power and better defense than expected. The issue is contact, especially on higher difficulties.

If you mostly play offline or All-Star ranked games, he can mash. If you play Hall of Fame or Legend, you'll probably want a contact boost.

↖ Budget Cards Are Sneaky Useful

Large pack drops usually push base-round prices down. That is good news for no-money-spent players.

Use these cards, finish missions, and sell them back if they don't fit your team. Do not lock them just because they look shiny for five minutes.

↖ Cityscape Collection: Who Is Worth It?

The Cityscape Collection has three main rewards: Clay Buchholz, Jimmy Rollins, and Mickey Mantle. The cards are good, but the cost matters.

↖ Clay Buchholz Is the Best Value

Buchholz has a strong pitch mix with sinker, cutter, circle change, four-seam, and slurve. That makes him one of the more reliable starters from this drop.

For most players, especially no-money-spent players, Buchholz is the collection target I like most.

↖ Jimmy Rollins Is Good, Not Essential

Rollins gives you speed, defense, contact, and positional flexibility. The problem is power. If your lineup already has contact-heavy infielders, he may not change much.

If you need a defensive shortstop, he is useful. If you need damage, he may feel light.

↖ Mickey Mantle Is a Luxury

Mantle is obviously good. He is a switch hitter, has strong hitting attributes, and can even play first base, which adds flexibility.

But locking in expensive cards for a 93 overall Mantle is a serious stub commitment. If you're still working on Live Series, I would prioritize Live Series first.

↖ Chase Pack Chapman: Worth the Hype?

Aroldis Chapman looks like the best left-handed reliever in the game right now.

He will probably be overpriced early. If you pull him, great. If you're buying, wait for the market to calm down.

Chase cards usually start high because everyone wants them immediately. Patience saves stubs.

↖ Conquest, Mini Seasons, and Diamond Quest

This update is strongest because it finally spreads rewards across offline modes. That is great for players who do not want to live in Ranked or Events all day.

↖ Mode Rewards

↖ Richie Sexson

Sexson has big power, but his strike zone is huge. Offline, he can be fun. Online, good pitchers will dot him up.

Still, Conquest is worth doing for the packs and XP alone.

↖ Mini Seasons Rewards

John Franco is useful because lefty relievers are always valuable. Edgar Martinez is a strong contact bat, though his defense limits him.

If you can choose a shorter Mini Season format, do that. There is no reason to make the grind longer unless you enjoy pain as a lifestyle choice.

↖ Diamond Quest Rewards

Michael Young and Dave Parker are both solid additions. I especially like Diamond Quest getting new cards because the mode badly needed a reason to come back.

If these cards are sellable and hold value, Diamond Quest could become a decent stub route again.

↖ April Showcase Event

The April Showcase Event gives more chances at Spotlight and Topps Now-related packs, plus a 92 overall Carlos Cortes.

Carlos Cortes can play all over the field and has good hitting attributes, especially against right-handed pitching.

Important note: Carlos Cortes is not required for the April Lightning card. If you only care about Lightning progress, do not force yourself to grind the entire event.

↖ Gameplay Update: Strike Zone and PCI Talk

The strike zone change is mostly visual, but you will feel it. Corner pitches that touch the edge are now called more consistently.

The PCI issue is still a hot topic. Same-handed matchups and certain pitch types can feel punishing, which is why switch hitters like Ian Happ and Mickey Mantle are so valuable.

This is also why lineup balance matters. If your whole team struggles against right-on-right or left-on-left matchups, you'll feel it quickly.

↖ No-Money-Spent Strategy

If you are no-money-spent, the goal is simple: get free value, avoid bad lock-ins, and sell hype cards when prices are inflated.

My rule is simple: rent cards before locking them. Use them for missions, see if you like the swing or pitch mix, then decide.

A card can look amazing in attributes and still feel awful in-game. We've all bought a card, taken three ugly swings, and immediately questioned our life choices.

↖ Best Cards to Target

For most players, the best practical targets are Ian Happ, Raleigh Fingers, Clay Buchholz, Felix Bautista, and J.T. Realmuto. Chapman is elite, but his price will decide whether he makes sense.

↖ FAQ

↖ What should I grind first in this MLB The Show update?

Start with the Cityscape Program. It gives free cards, XP, and collection progress, and those cards help with later PXP missions in Mini Seasons and Events.

↖ Is Ian Happ worth using?

Yes. Ian Happ is one of the best free cards in the update because he is a switch hitter with strong positional flexibility and balanced hitting.

↖ Is Mickey Mantle worth locking in for?

Mickey Mantle is great, but he is expensive. If you are still working on Live Series, Live Series should usually come first.

↖ Who is the best pitcher from the Cityscape Collection?

Clay Buchholz is the best value target. His sinker, cutter, circle change, and slurve give him a strong online pitch mix.

↖ Is Aroldis Chapman worth buying?

Chapman is likely the best lefty reliever in the game, but he will be expensive early. Waiting for his price to settle is the smarter move.

↖ Do I need Carlos Cortes for the April Lightning card?

No. Carlos Cortes is not required for the April Lightning card. Grind him only if you want the card, packs, or extra collection progress.

↖ Is Diamond Quest worth playing now?

Yes. The new Michael Young and Dave Parker rewards finally give Diamond Quest a reason to be played again, especially if the rewards have stub value.

↖ What is the best no-money-spent move?

Finish free content first, avoid locking expensive pack cards, sell rare pulls during hype, and focus on Clay Buchholz before chasing Mickey Mantle.

↖ Summary

This is a strong MLB The Show update because it gives players a full grind path instead of one isolated program. The best route is to complete the Cityscape Program, move into Conquest, then use those cards in Mini Seasons, Diamond Quest, and the Event.

For no-money-spent players, the smart play is to chase free value first and avoid locking expensive cards too early. Ian Happ is the best free program card, Clay Buchholz is the best realistic collection reward, and Felix Bautista or Chapman are the bullpen arms to watch if prices become reasonable.

Grind smart, keep your MLB 26 stubs flexible, and only lock cards when the reward clearly improves your team.