Grinding out stubs is the only way to stay afloat in MLB The Show 26. It doesn’t matter how skilful you are, or how early you started, if you haven’t mastered the art of earning stubs yet, you’re bound to fall behind. Stubs are your main currency to do basically anything in MLB The Show 26. Buying packs, trading cards, getting equipment, etc. But are you being efficient about it, or just mindlessly grinding?
Similar to PXP, almost every game mode in MLB The Show 26 is going to reward you with stubs. But not all methods are the same. Some are good for late-game, others are intended for beginners. However, today I’m going to talk about the best way to earn stubs regardless of your experience. These methods work from day 1 up until you max out your account. So without further ado, let’s get into it.
Earning Stubs Through Gameplay
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For the first part of this article, we’re going to talk about which game modes are most profitable for your stub-generating journey. With such a vast array of game modes available, you need to prioritize them one by one.
Conquests
There’s no doubt that Conquests is the best game mode to earn stubs fast. Each map is filled with various rewards, and you can earn more stubs with every action. But don’t just run in and try to speedrun it. Since the rewards are spread out throughout the map, you’ll want to move strategically while gaining as many fans as possible.
You should aim to get the Conquests maps done fast, since many of them are repeatable as well. Once you’re through with them, you can move on to the next game mode. A few tips to move as quickly as possible are to move towards strongholds without playing every encounter and focus on expanding your influence throughout the board; fans help reduce match difficulty.
Mini Seasons
The next game mode is Mini Seasons, and no complaints here. Mini Seasons are right behind Conquests when it comes to stub output. They’re fast, easy, and repeatable. But the real reason it shines is because of its program/mission stacking capabilities. Missions are one of the best ways to earn stubs and other rewards. During Mini Seasons, you can stack multiple programs to progress them simultaneously.
This not only gives you rewards from completing the Mini Seasons themselves (like a World Baseball Classic pack), but also rewards from Team Affinity, seasonal programs, and other missions going on. Plus, constantly mixing up your lineup to fulfil different mission requirements keeps the game fun and reduces monotony. Simply select the number of games you want, the difficulty you want them at, and dive in.
Showdowns
The final game mode I’d recommend is Showdowns. These are scenario-based challenges that reward players with massive XP boosts and packs upon completion. The rewards range from stubs to packs to particular high-value cards at times. Just make sure you’re not taking too long on one, or it will feel grindy.
Another thing to take into account with all of these methods is that you’re simultaneously earning PXP that feeds into your battle pass. Those are extra rewards you’re earning on top of all the direct ones, making these some of the best ways to earn stubs fast.
Market Flipping
If you’ve ever asked someone about how they earn stubs, one sure-fire way they’ll tell you is market flipping. Now, what is market flipping? It’s basically when you buy a card at a lower cost and sell it for a higher cost. The difference is what you pocket. Simple, right? Yes. But it’s an extremely tedious task if you’re getting into it.
All you have to do is monitor market trends and place Buy Orders whenever a card drops in value. The important part is knowing whether you can sell it for a higher price later on. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll become faster at spotting these trends, increasing your stubs per hour from this method.
Unlike the previous methods, this one does require some prior game knowledge and understanding of market trends.
Live Series Roster Updates
Live Series roster updates are definitely a top 5 way of making easy stubs, and a really fun one at that. All you need to do is follow players in the MLB and see how they’re performing. MLB The Show 26 pushes roster updates every two weeks and adjusts players accordingly. Player ratings can go higher or lower depending on their performance, and that’s where the profit comes in.
If you see a player who underperformed last season but has started overperforming this time, expect a significant buff next roster update. You quickly buy that card off the market since its price will currently be low. If the card is buffed after the roster update, its price will go up. You can then sell it at a profit. Similarly, you can sell cards for players who have underperformed this season, since they will probably get nerfed and drop in value.
Manipulating the market this way is an essential skill to have if you want to close the gap between you and top-tier players. Make sure you’re not just following game news, but also real-life MLB news to stay on top of all the updates. Combine this with other beneficial game modes, and you’ll have an abundant stack of stubs in no time.
Published: Mar 31, 2026 03:00 pm