In the world of MLB The Show 25, not every player wants to spend hours monitoring the Marketplace or investing in speculative card values. Many players prefer to earn their stubs through gameplay—putting in the mlb the show 25 stubstime on the field and letting skill and repetition do the work. Fortunately, MLB The Show 25 offers several reliable ways to earn thousands of stubs simply by playing the game smartly and consistently.

In this article, we’ll break down the most effective gameplay modes for earning stubs, including Road to the Show, Mini Seasons, Showdowns, and Challenges. Whether you’re a solo offline player or looking to grind efficiently alongside Diamond Dynasty goals, these tips will help you stack stubs without spending a dime.

1. Road to the Show (RTTS): The Long Grind That Pays
Road to the Show is the classic single-player career mode where you guide a created player from the minors to MLB stardom. What many players overlook is how much stub value RTTS can provide when approached strategically.

Here’s how to maximize your RTTS stub gains:

Use loadouts with strong perks (especially in Speed, Power, and Fielding). As you level up, these perks become more valuable—and can be sold for stubs.

Focus on position players, particularly infielders or outfielders, as you’ll generate more action and opportunities to improve attributes and earn XP quickly.

Grind through multiple careers instead of sticking with one long-term character. Starting new players helps you progress through programs repeatedly, earning XP, packs, and bonus stubs.

Sell duplicate equipment and perks. You’ll acquire a steady stream of these items just by progressing your RTTS player. Many players forget to sell these on the Marketplace.

A single RTTS season, when paired with daily and program missions, can yield thousands of stubs just from playing casually.

2. Mini Seasons: Short Games, Big Payouts
Mini Seasons is a popular single-player mode within Diamond Dynasty, where you compete in a short-form league against CPU-controlled teams built from real players' rosters. Each season consists of short 3-inning games, making it ideal for quick sessions that still produce solid rewards.

Why Mini Seasons are great for stubs:

Championship rewards often include packs and a base reward of 5,000 stubs or more.

Stat-based missions offer additional stub payouts. For example, scoring 30 runs or hitting 10 home runs in a season can trigger extra goals.

Progress counts toward parallel XP, which is important for evolving cards and completing Team Affinity programs—both of which yield packs and stubs.

Playing and winning a full Mini Season (including playoffs) can easily yield over 10,000 stubs between direct payouts, XP, and sellable rewards.

Pro Tip: Play on lower difficulties if you want fast and consistent wins. The stub payout may be slightly lower, but the time saved per game makes it worthwhile.

3. Showdowns: Risk, Reward, and Repetition
Showdowns are a mix of challenge missions and boss battles. You start with a drafted team and compete in short scenarios to gain perks and players before facing a final boss. They require an entry fee (usually around 500 stubs), but when completed, they yield high-value rewards.

How to profit from Showdowns:

Complete them consistently. If you can win the final boss 4 out of 5 times, the payout (3,000+ stubs) outweighs the entry cost.

Use the perks wisely. Build your draft around power hitters and choose perks that boost contact and clutch.

Grind specific Showdowns for programs. These often yield Program Stars, XP, and packs—items that can all be sold or converted into stubs.

Showdowns are particularly useful for players who enjoy high-intensity, skill-based gameplay. You can earn thousands in a couple of hours if you’re experienced and efficient.

4. Daily and Weekly Challenges: Easy Wins for Consistent Income
MLB The Show 25 includes Daily Moments, Missions, and Weekly Challenges that are simple to complete and offer guaranteed stub rewards.

These are usually as straightforward as:

Hitting a home run with a specific player

Pitching a shutout inning

Winning a CPU game with a preset lineup

While these challenges may only pay a few hundred stubs each, the cumulative effect adds up. Doing your dailies every day for a week can yield over 5,000 stubs, and weekly rewards often offer packs or equipment that can be sold.

Key Tip: Use the companion app or in-game tracker to check off your progress and never miss a reset.

5. Program Grinding: The XP Path to Stubs
Nearly every action you take in the game contributes XP toward the main season program and Team Affinity programs. As you reach milestones in each program, you unlock:

Packs

Equipment

Player cards

Direct stub payouts

Many of these rewards are non-bound, meaning they can be sold on the Marketplace. Grinding toward the end of a program’s path (or completing all Team Affinity missions) is one of the most consistent stub-producing paths available.

Focus on:

Completing moments

Playing through Conquest maps

Hitting online or offline missions

Don’t leave program progress to chance. Structure your play sessions around stacking program milestones for maximum reward output.