On the competitive stage of MLB The Show 25, subtle strategies in lineup building can often determine the outcome of a match. Recently, based on feedback from the player community, a fascinating tactic has come to the fore, attempting to break through competitive limitations through game mechanics.

This tactical approach assembled a special lineup where, aside from the catcher, almost all players had their discipline attributes at their highest level, aiming to verify the practical value of this attribute in high-level games. The complete, thought-provoking, and exciting match is now presented.

Tactical Concept

According to the attribute description in the in-game Diamond Dynasty, high discipline explicitly states that it increases the frequency with which batters back off when facing inside balls. Over time, this increases the number of walks.

This description accurately captures the common experience of many players: when you want to swing to hit an inside ball, the game mechanics sometimes force the batter to step back, making it impossible to swing.

Therefore, this tactic constructs a specialized lineup where all players except the catcher have the highest level of discipline. Jorge Posada, as the core of the lineup, although he does not possess Superfractor attribute to achieve the highest level of discipline, is still highly anticipated.

Real-World Testing

This experimental match was between two equally matched teams, which should have been the perfect stage to test tactics. However, the actual match went very differently from what was expected.

Opposing pitcher George Kirby did not frequently attack the inside corner, forcing the highly disciplined lineup to avoid inside pitches, thus negating their core advantage. This prevented the experiment from being directly validated on a data level.

Meanwhile, the player's starting pitcher, Roy Halladay, became another variable in the game. Although he has been one of the player's favorite pitchers in recent years, his recent form has been worrying, and he suffered another blow in this game, allowing the opponent to hit several crucial home runs, causing the score to fall behind early. This exposed the experimental lineup's weakness in the pitching position.

Despite the setback in their tactical experiment, the game showcased the allure of esports. This perseverance paid off in the seventh inning when Jorge Posada's crucial hit tied the score at 3-3, demonstrating the team's resilience. However, their opponents immediately regained the lead with a home run, pushing the game to a fever pitch.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the do-or-die experimental lineup staged a thrilling comeback. Jurickson Profar and Jose Bautista hit home runs in quick succession, bringing the score from 3-6 to 5-6 and giving the prospect of victory a second chance.

At a crucial moment, the opponent brought in left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller, while the players sent in Josh Gibson as a pinch hitter, hoping he could counter the left-handed pitcher's powerful offense. However, the final swing missed, bringing a disappointing end to this game full of attempts and passion.

Post-game Summary

Based on this closely contested and exciting match, we can draw a clear conclusion: discipline had absolutely no impact on the game, and not a single batter managed to dodge the ball.

This meticulously designed experimental tactic failed to reach the core of the theory due to the opponent's pitching strategy, but the result itself provided valuable data points.

The essence of the game's outcome lay in the difference in home runs. The opponent capitalized on the pitcher's off-ball play to efficiently convert into extra-base runs; while the opposing team, although hitting relatively better, saw too many powerful shots converted into outs, and their crucial extra-base runs failed to materialize for most of the game.

Regarding future adjustments, it's necessary to consider removing the struggling Roy Halladay from the starting lineup and trusting bullpen pitchers earlier. Also, it might be necessary to hit the underside of the ball more often to create more effective flight shots, rather than powerful but easily smashed flat shots.

While the strategy of layering discipline didn't work in this particular game, it didn't completely diminish the attribute's value in certain situations.

Perhaps discipline is best used in conjunction with other attributes for a more holistic approach. However, in high-level competitive play, players may need to focus on power and timing to outpace opponents' pitching speed, especially against dynamic pitchers like Josh Gibson.

This game may have been a loss, but it serves as a powerful reminder that strategy in MLB The Show 25 is constantly evolving. There is no guaranteed path to victory; adapting to new mechanisms, experimenting with different games, and continuous learning are key to staying competitive.

Whether you're adjusting your lineup based on discipline or trying entirely new tactics, true victory lies in pushing the limits of what's possible.

In this competitive game, what matters is not only winning or losing, but also the tactical maneuvering between the two sides. In this virtual baseball world full of endless possibilities, buy MLB 25 Stubs from Utnice.com to get more player cards suitable in other powerful tactics, change the course of the game, and break through the limits!

On October 17th, MLB The Show 25 launched its Extreme Program as planned. This nearly annual event has garnered player attention for its generous rewards and challenging missions.

This year is no exception, with Extreme Program offering five card rewards—three directly unlocked through point-based rewards, and two hidden within the accompanying Diamond Quest.

If you want to know the rewards of this Extreme Program and how to obtain them, we will introduce them to you in detail here.

Extreme Program Rewards

To earn these rich rewards, you'll need to complete challenging missions.

You'll earn points by completing exciting matches, including PXP Extreme Missions, Extreme Showdown, Extreme Conquest Maps, and the optional Extreme Diamond Quest.

This year's MLB The Show 25 Extreme Program offers the same generous rewards as always, living up to the expectations players have for this event. These rewards include Extreme Dragon Icons, Premier Choice Packs not available through MLB Stubs, and other valuable cards.

Accumulate a certain number of points to unlock corresponding rewards. The specific rules are as follows:

• 10 points earn an Extreme Dragon Icon and 25,000 XP.
• 20 points unlock Premier Choice Pack.
• 30 points unlock 99 OVR Milestone Byron Buxton card.
• 40 points earn another Premier Choice Pack.
• 50 points earn Stadium Sound and 25,000 XP.
• 60 points unlock 99 OVR Milestone Roger Clemens card.
• 70, 80, and 90 points earn you Ultra Choice Pack.
• 100 points earn you 99 OVR Milestone Elly De La Cruz card and 25,000 XP.

As you can see, the core card rewards of this Extreme Program are the three highly rated Milestone Series cards: Byron Buxton, Roger Clemens, and Elly De La Cruz.

As in previous years, such generous rewards come with a significant investment of time and MLB 25 Stubs to build your team and complete the challenge.

Extreme Program Missions

In MLB The Show 25 Extreme Program, different types of competitions earn different points, with varying scoring rules and difficulty levels. You can choose a different type based on your specific abilities.

The different missions and their corresponding points are as follows:

• Extreme Conquest: 30 points
• Extreme Showdown: 30 points
• 10 Moments: 40 points (4 points each)
• OPTIONAL Extreme Missions: Different points
• Extreme PXP Mission: 5 points
• Extreme Diamond Quest: 30 points

OPTIONAL Extreme Missions include winning 2, 5, or 10 times in Extreme Events, each worth 1 point, 5 points, and 5 points, respectively.

Winning an Extreme Event twice (worth 1 point) in OPTIONAL Extreme Missions is repeatable. You can choose the appropriate task according to your level.

For players whose challenge teams haven't yet fully assembled, we recommend choosing missions that require two wins. This way, even if you don't have a sufficient supply of MLB The Show 25 Stubs to acquire suitable players for the challenge, you can quickly build a winning team.

Once you've decided on your OPTIONAL Extreme Missions, confirm them in-game as soon as possible. The deadline for selecting these missions is October 31st, 2:00 PM ET.

Extreme Conquest

To earn all 30 points in MLB The Show 25 Extreme Conquest, you must complete all system-assigned objectives before completing Conquest map.

Here are the tasks you need to complete:

• Capture all AL and NL East Strongholds in the first round.
• Capture NL Central Stronghold by the second round or earlier.
• Capture NL West Stronghold by the third round or earlier.
• Capture AL Central Stronghold by the fourth round or earlier.
• Capture AL West Stronghold by the fifth round or earlier.
• Gain 15 million followers (starting at 15 million followers).
• Capture all Strongholds.
• Capture the entire map.

Although these tasks may seem difficult to achieve, they are achievable through continuous effort. You can constantly improve your skills and seize the right opportunities to complete them.

Extreme Showdown

In this challenge, you must assemble your Showdown Squad and compete against pitchers from Diamond Dynasty. By completing each level and defeating Blue Jays pitcher Roger Clemens in the final match, you will earn 30 points for this challenge.

To secure victory in the final match, it's worthwhile to buy MLB The Show 25 Stubs to acquire powerful players. This will help you assemble a stronger team and defeat your opponent.

Moments

Extreme Program's Moments consists of 10 challenging challenges, each requiring you to achieve specific objectives at a specific difficulty level. Each Moment is worth 4 points, and completing all Moments earns you 40 points.

Moments challenges in MLB The Show 25 are broadly categorized into Hall of Fame and Legend difficulties. Challenges include, but are not limited to, hitting home runs, winning games against adversity, and completing system-assigned objectives under certain conditions.

These Moment Challenges are entirely dependent on your skill and there are no shortcuts.

Extreme PXP Mission

Extreme PXP Mission requires you to earn 40,000 PXP in any mode within Diamond Dynasty. Notably, this mission is repeatable.

As you continue playing in MLB The Show 25, you'll accumulate PXP.

Extreme Diamond Quest

This is the first of three Challenges in this Extreme Program to span three venues: Dodger Stadium, Truist Park, and Progressive Field.

Notably, completing Extreme Diamond Quest will reward you with the powerful Kenley Jansen and Milestone Carlos Santana. These two player cards are unavailable through other means, so if you want them, you'll want to complete Extreme Quest.

While Extreme Program event missions in MLB The Show 25 are challenging, the generous rewards are well worth the resources and time invested in completing them. You can choose the appropriate task according to your level, plan the challenge time reasonably, and collect your favorite player cards.

MLB The Show 25 9th Inning Program launched on October 3rd, adding three powerful new bosses and an untradeable 99 OVR hitter. As always, you'll need to earn XP in each mode.

Besides the new players, 9th Inning Program also includes free player packs, stadium items, stubs, and more, for a total of 35 rewards. Let's take a look at the rewards and how to earn them.

9th Inning Program Rewards

1. 3,000 XP: MLB The Show 25 pack
2. 7,500 XP: 9th Inning Cornerstone Choice Pack
3. 12,500 XP: MLB The Show 25 pack
4. 17,500 XP: 1,000 Stubs
5. 22,500 XP: 9th Inning Cornerstone Choice Pack
6. 27,500 XP: Ballin' is a Habit pack
7. 35,000 XP: Headliners pack
8. 42,500 XP: 1,000 Stubs
9. 50,000 XP: Headliners pack
10. 57,500 XP: 9th Inning Cornerstone Choice Pack
11. 65,000 XP: 1,000 Stubs
12. 72,500 XP: Stadium Sound
13. 80,000 XP: Ballin' is a Habit pack
14. 87,500 XP: Headliners pack
15. 95,000 XP: 1,000 Stubs
16. 105,000 XP: Audio Unlockable
17. 115,000 XP: 99 OVR Retro Finest Joc Pederson (No-Sell)
18. 125,000 XP: Ballin' is a Habit pack
19. 135,000 XP: Deluxe Choice pack
20. 145,000 XP: Headliners pack
21. 155,000 XP: 9th Inning Boss Choice Pack
22. 165,000 XP: Ballin' is a Habit pack
23. 175,000 XP: Deluxe Choice Pack
24. 185,000 XP: MLB The Show 25 pack
25. 195,000 XP: Headliners pack
26. 205,000 XP: 1,500 Stubs
27. 220,000 XP: Deluxe Choice pack
28. 235,000 XP: Ballin' is a Habit pack
29. 250,000 XP: MLB The Show 25 pack (x2)
30. 265,000 XP: 9th Inning Boss Choice Pack
31. 280,000 XP: Deluxe Choice Pack
32. 295,000 XP: Headliners Pack
33. 310,000 XP: 2,000 Stubs
34. 325,000 XP: Full Moon 2.0 Choice Pack
35. 340,000 XP: Home Run Derby X Choice Pack

How To Complete 9th Inning Program?

In addition to accumulating XP in Diamond Dynasty mode, you can also redeem XP for a voucher for 9th Inning after defeating all three bosses in 8th Inning Program. You can redeem up to 50,000 XP.

In addition, completing Drop Missions also earns XP:

• Achieve 12 strikeouts in any game mode (5,000 XP)
• Achieve 25 home runs in any game mode (7,500 XP)
• Achieve 75 extra-base hits in any game mode (10,000 XP)

9th Inning Program Player Cards

While 9th Inning Cornerstone Choice Pack grants you three 93 OVR players, our focus for this post is on the 99 OVR.

99 OVR Joc Pederson Retro Finest

• Contact Right: 118
• Contact Left: 104
• Power Right: 125
• Power Left: 82
• Vision: 101
• Discipline: 104
• Clutch: 125
• Bunt: 35
• Drag Bunt: 25
• Durability: 95

Joc Pederson struggled at the plate in September. Although he hit a game-tying double on September 14th, his overall batting average was less than.200, making him a limited contributor to Retro.

As a card that cannot be traded for MLB 25 stubs, his strong power (125) and high contact (118) against right-handed pitchers mean he can be a significant extra-base/home run threat in regular matchups. He can also adapt to the left and right outfield positions and first base, giving you more room for substitutions and rotations when building your lineup, making him a pretty competitive prospect at this point.

99 OVR Andrew McCutchen Pirates CF Finest

• Contact Right: 125
• Contact Left: 115
• Power Right: 107
• Power Left: 125
• Vision: 107
• Discipline: 114
• Clutch: 125
• Bunt: 35
• Drag Bunt: 25
• Durability: 95

The 39-year-old McCutchen has a career September batting average of .261 and 59 home runs. Overall, his production is solid, but his batting average is slightly lower than usual.

As 9th Inning Boss, his Power and Contact are both very strong, and his vision allows him to play in difficult games. His stolen bases (80) are also quite threatening. However, his defense is not particularly top-notch, so he may be suppressed in extreme matchups when facing top hitters. If you already have a very top outfielder and hitter, the marginal improvement of this card may be small.

99 OVR Chris Sale Braves SP Awards

• Stamina: 108
• H/9: 114
• K/9: 116
• BB/9: 101
• HR/9: 94
• Pitch Clutch: 125
• Control: 97
• Velocity: 99
• Break: 99

Chris Sale's performance in September was still reliable. Although he did not appear in many games, his efficiency, control and strikeout ability were relatively solid.

As a Boss card, he has virtually no weaknesses among pitchers, making him a great buy for long-term use. You can use him as the centerpiece, first, or second starter in your lineup.

99 OVR Corey Seager Rangers SS Awards

• Contact Right: 125
• Contact Left: 120
• Power Right: 125
• Power Left: 109
• Vision: 103
• Discipline: 104
• Clutch: 125
• Bunt: 35
• Drag Bunt: 25
• Durability: 90

Corey Seager had a particularly impressive September. His batting form returned in September, and he was able to contribute significantly in RBIs and home runs, making him a key player for Rangers.

His Boss card demonstrates excellent hitting and decent defense for his tier. However, due to his poor speed, avoid assigning him primary baserunning or stealing responsibilities. Instead, consider using him in matchups where he's more focused on hitting and defense.

9th Inning Program expires on October 31st, leaving you two weeks to complete the program. Since there are only two Boss Choice Packs, I recommend prioritizing Chris Sale, followed by Corey Seager, and finally Andrew McCutchen. You can also prioritize the cards with the highest demand based on the player market.

All three Boss cards can be traded for stubs, but they're currently valued at around 50,000 to 60,000 stubs. If you want to collect all three before the program ends, Utnice has a number of cheap and reliable MLB The Show 25 stubs for sale. If you don't have time to claim all the rewards, Utnice is a good option.