Pitching gets the first look in this October 11 MLB The Show 26 card breakdown, and Andy Pettitte is the clear S tier target. If you're weighing where your MLB 26 stubs should go, start with what your rotation lacks. Pettitte offers control and a useful mix: sinker, cutter, circle change, and a 12 to 6 curveball. You aren't just throwing different speeds. You're changing where hitters need to look. That's a stronger reason to add him than name recognition alone.

Not every new arm earns a spot

Gerrit Cole lands in A tier, with strong attributes against lefties and five pitches to work through a lineup. His four seam fastball, knuckle curve, slider, cutter, and changeup give you options. Michael King sits a step lower in B tier. His sinker, circle change, sweeper, four seam fastball, and slider look useful, but the control isn't quite there. Relief pitching is thinner. Ray Kerr's slurve and curveball combination looks readable, leaving him in B tier. Bryan Baker ranks lower because three pitches don't offer much room to adjust.

Springer brings the biggest outfield bat

George Springer is the S tier outfield pick here. The Diamond Quest card pairs maximum contact with big power, so average speed and fielding are easier to accept. Put him where his bat matters without asking him to cover everything. Michael Harris II offers a different fit in A tier: speed, defense, and power close to the ceiling. Garrett Mitchell also belongs in A tier, though his appeal leans toward run prevention. His perfect speed and fielding make him a late inning replacement when protecting a narrow lead.

Build the infield around useful roles

Enrique Hernandez earns an A tier spot because he solves several roster problems. He covers nearly every position except catcher, brings strong vision and fielding, and has a swing worth trying yourself. Joe Morgan is another A tier choice, especially at second base, where his contact, vision, speed, and glove matter more than arm strength. Third base isn't as convincing a fit. Manny Machado stays in B tier despite his defense; limited speed and modest offense hold him back. Ryan Vilade also sits in B tier across his infield options, with defensive concerns and weaker contact against righties.

Leave room for a dependable catcher

Ivan Rodriguez rounds out the priorities as an A tier catcher. His 95 pop time rating and defense that reaches maximum levels through parallels give you a reason to use him. Contact, vision, and clutch help, too, although his right handed swing keeps him below the top group in this ranking. Before committing your MLB stubs, decide whether you need Pettitte's command, Springer's offense, or Hernandez's flexibility most. A card can rank well and still be the wrong purchase for your lineup.