MLB The Show 25 Pitching Guide
Whether you're playing casually or competing in Diamond Dynasty for rewards like MLB 25 Stubs, this guide will break down the key strategies to help you control the game from the first pitch to the final out.
1. The Feeling-Out Process
A nine-inning game is a marathon, not a sprint. The first couple of innings should be about gathering intel, not overpowering hitters. Every batter has weaknesses, maybe they can't handle a high fastball, or maybe they struggle against breaking pitches low and away.
Your job early is to figure that out. Throw a variety of pitches, mix locations, and take note of what gets whiffs or weak contact. If you notice your opponent can't catch up to a high-and-tight fastball, keep it in your back pocket and use it strategically later.
And remember, you don't have to throw strikes every pitch. If a batter chases balls out of the zone, let them. Just beware of players with the "Bad Ball Hitter" quirk, like 91 OVR Shohei Ohtani or All-Star Bryan Reynolds, who can punish pitches well off the plate.
2. Mastering Pitcher Confidence
Pitcher confidence is an underrated weapon in MLB The Show 25. Build it by throwing strikes, getting swings and misses, and racking up strikeouts. Make a hitter look foolish, and your confidence meter will soar.
Lose confidence by issuing walks, giving up hits, or, the worst offense, serving up a home run. Even defensive errors will dent your confidence, just like in real baseball.
A sneaky tactic: In older games, you could gain easy confidence by striking out opposing pitchers. In Diamond Dynasty, where the DH rule applies, that's gone, but you can still identify weaker hitters in the lineup, often in the ninth spot, and attack them aggressively. If your pitcher has a sinker (and in the current MLB 25 meta, most elite sinkers are nasty), you can induce ground balls for easy outs and quick confidence boosts.
3. The Art of Tunneling
Pitching is as much about deception as it is about execution. Tunneling means making two pitches look the same out of your hand, forcing the hitter to commit before realizing they're wrong.
For example, cutters and sinkers both appear like fastballs early, but their movement takes them in opposite directions. Combine that with varying velocities, different arm slots, or quirks like Outlier, and you can make batters guess all game long.
The new sweeper pitch, a slower, sweeping slider, is another great tunneling tool. Pair it with a high fastball or a sharp changeup, and you'll have hitters second-guessing every swing.
4. Why Pinpoint Pitching Is King
There are multiple pitching controls in MLB The Show 25, but pinpoint pitching is by far the most accurate, and the most rewarding. You use the analog stick to trace a motion on-screen, and your accuracy is graded. Hit a perfect motion, and your pitch will land almost exactly where you aimed.
It's high-risk, high-reward. Mess up the motion, and you leave a meatball over the plate. But master it, and you'll dominate. Top players can hit 70% or more perfect pitches in a game, making them nearly unhittable.
Each pitcher's motion is unique based on their arsenal. Remember, when pitching from the stretch with runners on, the motion changes, and for left-handed pitchers, everything is mirrored.
5. Building Your Pitching Staff
You can't dominate the mound without the right arms. Here are some top options:
Garrett Crochet (87 OVR, Topps Now)
Sweeper, sinker, 98 mph fastball. Elite sweeper movement and strong velocity make him deadly early in the season. Available as a Diamond Quest reward or cheap on the marketplace, perfect if you want to save your MLB 25 Stubs for other upgrades.
John Donaldson (New Collection Reward)
Features Outlier on two pitches and a rare forkball. You can unlock him by collecting 20 Negro League players from Storylines and Moments. He was meta-dominant last year and is expected to be just as strong in 2025.
Devin Williams (Reliever)
Known for his cutter, fastball, and old-school screwball, Williams keeps hitters off balance and is one of the best bullpen arms you can get.
Building a balanced rotation and bullpen means you're prepared for every game mode, Ranked, Conquest, or Events, and can adjust based on your opponent's strengths.
6. Managing Stubs for Pitching Success
Whether you're grinding for free or buying players outright, MLB The Show 25 Stubs are key to improving your pitching staff. You can earn MLB 25 Stubs through gameplay, programs, and marketplace flips, or spend them strategically on arms that fit your playstyle.
Investing in versatile pitchers early will save you from constant roster overhauls. If you're aiming to compete in Diamond Dynasty, balancing your rotation with both meta starters and shut-down relievers will pay off in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Pitching in MLB The Show 25 is more than just throwing the ball, it's about reading your opponent, building confidence, using deception, and having the right arsenal to shut hitters down.
From mastering the feeling-out process in the first inning to pulling off perfect, pinpoint pitches in the ninth, every decision matters. Combine smart pitching strategies with a well-built staff, and you'll not only rack up strikeouts but also earn the rewards that matter most, wins, program progress, and a steady supply of MLB 25 Stubs to fuel your Diamond Dynasty journey.
Whether you're saving your MLB The Show 25 Stubs for the next big collection or spending them to lock in your dream rotation, the mound is where games are won. Now go out there, mix your pitches, tunnel like a pro, and make every hitter wish they'd stayed in the dugout.