Pitching is a critical part of MLB The Show 25, and success on the mound depends on much more than simply throwing strikes. Mastering the art of pitching requires a strategic approach to pitch selection, location, and timing. If you want to become a dominant force on the mound, you need to understand how to MLB 25 Stubs mix up your pitches, keep batters off balance, and avoid common mistakes.
Here are some top pitching strategies to help you dominate in MLB The Show 25.
- Master the Art of Pitching Sequences
One of the keys to successful pitching is mixing up your pitch types and locations to keep batters guessing. Throwing the same pitch repeatedly makes you predictable, and predictable pitchers are easy to hit.
Why it matters: Batters will be able to anticipate your next pitch if you don't vary your selections. A well-executed pitch sequence keeps batters off-balance, leading to weaker contact or strikeouts.
Tip: Start with a fastball, then throw an off-speed pitch (like a curveball or changeup) to throw off the batter's timing. Use a slider or breaking ball to get them to chase pitches out of the strike zone when ahead in the count.
- Understand Pitching Hot Zones
Every pitcher has different strengths, and each batter has specific areas of the strike zone where they struggle. To be effective on the mound, it's essential to understand both your pitcher's hot zones and your opponent's weaknesses.
Why it matters: Throwing pitches in your pitcher's hot zones increases your chances of getting outs, while targeting a batter's weak spots increases the chances of forcing a poor swing.
Tip: Study your pitcher's pitch arsenal and know their strengths. If a pitcher has a strong curveball, use it often in low and outside parts of the strike zone to induce ground balls or strikeouts.
- Keep Batters Off-Balance with Speed Changes
Changing speeds is one of the most effective ways to keep batters off-balance. Mixing fastballs with off-speed pitches creates timing issues and increases your chances of getting batters to swing and miss.
Why it matters: A batter who is expecting a fastball but gets a changeup will be late on the pitch, leading to weak contact or swings and misses. Likewise, throwing a high fastball after a series of off-speed pitches can catch a batter off guard.
Tip: Use a fastball early in the count to establish dominance, then follow up with an off-speed pitch to disrupt the batter's timing.
- Learn to Use the Shift to Your Advantage
The defensive shift can be a powerful tool to increase the effectiveness of your pitching. If you know a batter is a pull hitter, for example, you can adjust your fielders accordingly to help turn potential hits into easy outs.
Why it matters: The shift provides additional defensive support, giving you a better chance to get batters out. However, you need to pitch to the shift to make sure your defense is in the right place.
Tip: If a batter is known to pull the ball, try to throw pitches on the outer half of the plate and align your defense to the right side of the field. This maximizes your chances of MLB Stubs getting them out.
