If you want to stay competitive in MLB The Show 25, one often overlooked area that can make or break games is your bullpen. Whether you’re grinding through Diamond Dynasty or dominating Ranked Seasons, a reliable bullpen rotation gives you the edge in late-inning clutch moments. Here are 19 practical tips to help you tighten up your relief strategy and maximize every outing.
1. Balance Your Bullpen Roles
Don't load your bullpen with only closers or long relievers. Aim for a balance of specialists, middle relievers, setup men, and closers to handle every situation.
2. Warm Up With Purpose
Always warm up pitchers before you need them. Reaction time is crucial, and a cold pitcher gives up hard contact far more often.
3. Use Lefty-Righty Matchups
Exploit the left/right splits—this isn’t just flavor text. Knowing your bullpen’s splits can help you shut down tough hitters.
4. Monitor Energy Levels
Avoid sending in relievers two or three games in a row without rest. Even elite arms suffer from fatigue penalties in MLB The Show 25.
5. Avoid Overusing High-Velocity Arms
Throwing out flamethrowers inning after inning can become predictable. Mix in off-speed specialists or groundball pitchers to keep hitters off balance.
6. Scouting the Opponent’s Lineup
Pay attention to the upcoming batters before making a change. Is the top of the order due up? Maybe hold off on your best setup man until next inning.
7. Don’t Save Your Closer Too Long
Sometimes saving your closer for the 9th is too late. If your opponent’s best hitters are in the 8th, bring in your top arm early.
8. Use Pitching Meters Consistently
Stick to either Meter, Pinpoint, or Analog pitching. Switching mid-game often leads to loss of control, especially under pressure.
9. Train Bullpen Pitchers
Use programs, Mini Seasons, and Conquest to grind PXP and parallel your bullpen arms. It’s often easier to boost relievers than starters.
10. Bullpen Day Strategy
If your starter gets rocked early, treat the rest of the game like a bullpen day. Use long relievers first, and save one or two arms just in case it goes extra innings.
11. Build Around Archetypes
Choose pitchers that fit into your gameplay style—power pitchers for aggressive players, control pitchers for finesse users. You can boost bullpen impact dramatically when their strengths match your strategy.
12. Don’t Ignore Situational Perks
Some relievers have quirks or perks that trigger under pressure. Use that to your advantage in tight games.
13. Switch Pitchers at the Right Time
Don’t leave a pitcher in just because they’ve been solid. When their confidence dips, make the change before damage snowballs.
14. Use Double Switches in Extra Innings
If you’re playing with National League rules or using a strategy that calls for double switches, keep that in mind to keep your bullpen fresh longer.
15. Stack Silver and Gold Arms
You don’t need a full bullpen of Diamonds. There are excellent Silver and Gold tier relievers that get the job done—and save you mlb 25 stubs xbox along the way.
16. Track Performance
Take notes on which bullpen arms get shelled or shine in certain matchups. Over time, you’ll naturally build a go-to rotation.
17. Consider Pitch Repertoires
Not all fastballs are created equal. Look at pitch types before assigning roles—pitchers with sinkers or cutters are great for inducing double plays.
18. Mix Speeds to Disrupt Timing
Follow a hard-throwing reliever with someone who works off-speed and vice versa. This pitching rhythm change makes batters miss more often.
19. Budget Smart with U4N
When looking to buy MLB The Show 25 Stubs and upgrade your bullpen, U4N offers a practical way to stretch your budget while improving your roster. Whether you’re stacking elite closers or developing hidden gems, every stub counts toward a stronger bullpen.
Mastering bullpen management is one of the most underrated ways to win consistently in MLB The Show 25. From pitcher selection and energy control to matchup exploitation and strategic timing, every decision adds up. If you’re smart with your roster construction and spend wisely—especially when using options like U4N to buy MLB The Show 25 stubs—you’ll notice a big difference in your late-game performances. Don’t sleep on the bullpen. It just might win you the game.