ULTIMATE MLB The Show 26 Tier List! 4th Inning Update

The 4th Inning Program in MLB The Show 26 Diamond Dynasty is not just another XP path. It is the point where a lot of early-cycle cards start to feel replaceable, where free rewards suddenly become real starters, and where players have to make a familiar but uncomfortable decision:

Do you take the card you want, the card you need, or the card the market says is worth the most?

That is the tension of this update.

The headline cards are clear: 95 OVR All-Star Mike Piazza, 96 OVR All-Star Steve Carlton, and the final 4th Inning Boss Choice Pack, where players choose between 97 OVR Roger Clemens and 97 OVR Rafael Devers. Multiple community tracking sources and MLB The Show update coverage confirm that the 4th Inning XP path is live with Clemens and Devers as boss rewards, while Piazza and Carlton sit earlier in the reward path. 

But a tier list should not stop at “this card is good.”
That is too easy.

The real question is:

Which cards actually help you win games, save stubs, complete programs faster, and survive the next content drop?

Let’s get into the full 4th Inning update tier list.

Latest 4th Inning Program News: What Changed?

The 4th Inning Program gives players a longer runway than usual, with the uploaded reward-path information showing a 34-day window to earn rewards. That matters because the timing appears to line up with the road toward All-Star-related content, meaning this inning could act as a bridge between the current mid-cycle meta and the next wave of stronger summer cards.

The biggest confirmed reward-path milestones are:

According to recent update coverage, the 4th Inning XP reward bosses are Roger Clemens and Rafael Devers, with Clemens receiving early attention because of his power arm and Outlier-style velocity appeal.

And yes, the reward path also includes packs, stubs, Headliners packs, Ballin’ is a Habit packs, an 85+ Live Series pack, and several deluxe packs. That might sound like filler, but it is not. Those packs and stubs matter for no-money-spent players trying to build around free cards.

A quick note for players who want to speed up roster building: if you plan to buy MLB The Show 26 stubs, you can check U4GM.com. Just keep your spending controlled, compare prices, and avoid buying cards at peak hype right after a content drop.

How This Tier List Works

This is not a pure overall-rating list.

That would be lazy.

A 97 OVR card can disappoint. A 95 OVR card can become a lineup staple. A pitcher with elite velocity can still get crushed if his pitch mix is predictable. A hitter with slightly lower attributes can outperform a “better” card if the swing is clean.

So this tier list ranks cards by actual Diamond Dynasty value.

Ranking Criteria

The point is not just to ask, “Who is the highest rated?”

The better question is:

“Who gives my team the most value right now without hurting my future roster?”

Quick Tier List: Best 4th Inning Update Cards

This update is top-heavy, but in a good way. You are not grinding 400,000 XP just for a cosmetic reward or collection filler. Clemens and Devers can both matter, Piazza can start for many teams, and Carlton gives free rotation depth even if he is not the scariest lefty in the game.

S-Tier: Roger Clemens — The Safest 4th Inning Boss Pick

If you are asking, “Who should I take from the 4th Inning Boss Pack?” the simple answer is:

Roger Clemens.

Not always.
But usually.

Clemens is the boss card most players are gravitating toward, and it is not hard to understand why. The community conversation around this update has focused heavily on his velocity, with several sources noting Clemens as one of the featured 4th Inning bosses. 

Why Clemens Is S-Tier

Clemens fits the current online meta because high-end starting pitching is always harder to replace than corner bats. A great third baseman or first baseman is nice, but there are usually more offensive alternatives than elite starters with overpowering stuff.

The appeal is not just velocity, though velocity helps. The value comes from pressure.

A pitcher who can touch triple digits changes how opponents approach every at-bat. They have to speed up. They start cheating fastball. Once that happens, off-speed pitches become more dangerous.

That is how a pitcher becomes more than a stat page.

He becomes uncomfortable.

Best Uses for Roger Clemens

The Catch

Clemens is not automatically unbeatable.

That is a mistake a lot of players make with high-velocity pitchers. If you throw fastballs predictably, good hitters will adjust. Outlier-style velocity is a weapon, not a strategy by itself.

You still need to tunnel pitches.
You still need to change eye levels.
You still need to avoid becoming obvious.

Verdict: Clemens is the best overall 4th Inning boss for most players because elite starting pitching travels well across every mode.

S-Tier / A+ Tier: Rafael Devers — The Best Bat, But Not Always the Best Pick

Rafael Devers is the fun choice.

That does not mean he is the wrong choice.

Devers cards are usually popular because his swing tends to feel smooth, direct, and powerful. In Diamond Dynasty, that matters. A lot. A card can have huge numbers, but if the swing feels heavy, players will abandon it quickly. Devers usually avoids that problem.

He is also a left-handed power bat, and lefty power is always useful in Ranked Seasons.

Why Devers Can Be Elite

Devers gives you the kind of bat that can change a game with one swing. If your lineup feels right-handed heavy, or if you have been lacking a reliable lefty corner infielder, he makes sense.

He is especially valuable if:

• You need a middle-of-the-order bat
• You are comfortable sacrificing some defensive flexibility
• You like left-handed swings
• You want a card that can punish right-handed pitching
• Your rotation is already strong enough without Clemens

Why Devers Is Not the Automatic Pick

The issue is positional value.

Corner infield is usually easier to fill than elite starting pitching. Even if Devers is excellent, many players already have usable bats at first base, third base, designated hitter, or corner infield-type roles.

That does not make him bad.
It just makes him less universal.

Verdict: Devers is the best hitter in the 4th Inning boss pack, but Clemens is the more practical pick for more rosters.

A+ Tier: Mike Piazza — The Free Catcher You Should Not Ignore

Mike Piazza at 57,500 XP is one of the most important rewards in the entire program.

Not because he is the highest-rated card.
He is not.

But because he fills a position where offense is often hard to find.

Catcher is always weird in MLB The Show. You can find defensive catchers. You can find cards with arms. But finding a catcher who actually feels dangerous at the plate is a different story.

Piazza gives you that.

The uploaded reward-path information shows 95 OVR All-Star Mike Piazza as the first major player reward at 57,500 XP, and related 4th Inning coverage confirms Piazza as an early XP reward path card.

Why Piazza Is So Valuable

Piazza’s value comes from the gap between his position and his bat. If the same hitting profile were at first base or left field, it might be less exciting. At catcher, it matters more.

A catcher who can hit changes the bottom half of your lineup. Suddenly, you are not giving away an at-bat. You are not waiting for the lineup to turn over. You can score from any spot.

That is a real advantage.

Piazza Strengths and Weaknesses

Should You Start Piazza?

If you do not already have a premium catcher, yes.

Even if his defense is not perfect, the offensive upgrade may outweigh the defensive loss. And in the current game environment, where so many players prioritize run production, Piazza is exactly the kind of free card that can outperform his cost.

Which is easy, because his cost is basically time.

Verdict: Piazza is a must-grind free card and one of the best early rewards in the 4th Inning Program.

A-Tier: Steve Carlton — Free Lefty Rotation Help

At 220,000 XP, players can earn 96 OVR All-Star Steve Carlton.

Carlton is not the flashiest reward in the program. He is not the card most people are talking about first. But free left-handed starting pitching is never something to dismiss.

The important thing is to be honest about what he is.

He is a strong free rotation piece.
He is probably not the final answer for every competitive squad.

Why Carlton Is Useful

Left-handed starters give your rotation variety. If you are running too many righties, hitters can get comfortable with similar release points and pitch shapes. A lefty changes the rhythm.

Carlton can help you:

• Break up a right-heavy rotation
• Complete innings and pitching missions
• Give no-money-spent players a free starter
• Add depth for Events, Ranked, or offline grinding

Where Carlton Falls Short

The concern is whether he has enough overpowering traits to dominate higher-level opponents. A free 96 is great, but when compared to premium meta starters, he may feel a step below.

That is fine.

Not every card has to be endgame. Some cards are there to stabilize your team while you build toward the next upgrade.

Verdict: Carlton is a useful free starter and a good no-money-spent reward, but he is below Clemens in competitive upside.

Full 4th Inning Reward Path: Key Milestones

Here is a cleaned-up version of the major 4th Inning XP rewards from the uploaded program information.

This is a solid reward path because the major player rewards are spaced out well. Piazza comes early enough to help immediately. Carlton arrives around the middle-late grind. The boss pack gives players a meaningful final goal.

That structure matters. If the best reward is too far away and everything before it feels weak, players burn out. This path at least gives you usable cards along the way.

4th Inning Boss Choice: Clemens or Devers?

Here is the simplest way to decide.

My Recommendation

For most players, I would take Roger Clemens.

Not because Devers is weak. He is not. But because a true top-end starter is usually harder to replace than a corner bat. If Clemens gives you five to seven strong innings in Ranked, that affects the entire game. It saves your bullpen. It gives you control. It lets you dictate pace.

Devers can win you a game with one swing.

Clemens can shape the whole game before that swing ever happens.

That is the difference.

Best Cards by Tier After the 4th Inning Update

S-Tier Cards

A-Tier Cards

B-Tier Cards

These are cards that can still help but are starting to feel replaceable.

Examples include:

• Older pitchers without elite pitch mixes
• Corner bats with poor defense
• Hitters with one-sided splits
• Cards that only work on All-Star difficulty
• Expensive cards now challenged by free rewards

C-Tier Cards

These cards are mostly for:

• Collections
• Theme teams
• Events
• Offline missions
• Temporary lineup filling

They are not useless. They just should not be mistaken for true competitive upgrades.

Position-by-Position Strategy After the 4th Inning Update

Catcher: Mike Piazza Changes the Conversation

If you were weak at catcher, Piazza may be your answer.

The reason is simple: catcher offense is scarce. A free catcher with a trusted swing and real hitting upside lets you spend stubs elsewhere.

Instead of paying for a premium catcher, you can now use Piazza and invest in:

• Bullpen arms
• A better shortstop
• A center fielder with range
• A true ace
• Bench bats

That is how good free rewards create roster flexibility.

Corner Infield: Devers Is Great, But Check Your Roster First

Devers is tempting. A lefty power bat always is.

But before choosing him, ask yourself:

Is he replacing a weak card, or just joining a crowded position group?

If your third base, first base, or DH role is already strong, Clemens may help more. If your lineup needs left-handed thunder, Devers becomes much easier to justify.

Starting Pitcher: Clemens and Carlton Both Matter

The 4th Inning update gives you two notable rotation options:

• Clemens as the premium boss
• Carlton as the free XP reward

That combination is huge for no-money-spent players. You can add two starters without touching the marketplace, then use your stubs to fix your bullpen or lineup holes.

Bullpen: Still the Hidden Priority

The 4th Inning Program is more focused on starters and bats, which means bullpen building remains your responsibility.

Do not ignore it.

A weak bullpen ruins good starts. If Clemens gives you six strong innings and your relievers blow the game in the eighth, you did not build a complete team.

Prioritize:

• One reliable lefty
• One velocity righty
• One control-focused reliever
• One closer you actually trust
• Different pitch shapes so opponents cannot settle in

Fastest Way to Earn 400,000 XP

The uploaded article information notes an important reality: reaching 400,000 XP means averaging roughly 100,000 XP per week across the 34-day program window.

That is not impossible.

But it does require intention.

You cannot just play randomly and expect to finish comfortably unless you play a lot. Fixed weekly missions may only cover part of the required pace, so program-specific missions become the difference.

The Best XP Strategy: Stack Everything

This is the single most important tip.

Do not enter games trying to complete one mission at a time. Build your lineup so multiple missions progress together.

For example, if there are missions for:

• Cornerstone Series PXP
• Spotlight Series PXP
• Hits in Ranked or Weekend Classic
• Pitching innings
• Team-based stats
• Position-based stats

Then your lineup should include players who satisfy several of those goals at once.

That way, one game advances three or four tasks.

That is how efficient players finish programs early.

Weekly XP Target

Practical Grind Plan

Step 1: Get Piazza First

Your first real target is 57,500 XP.

Do not overthink the early grind. Get Piazza as soon as possible if you need catcher help.

Step 2: Stack Program Missions

Build your team around active mission requirements. Even if a mission card is not your best card, use it in lower-pressure modes like Conquest, Mini Seasons, or CPU games.

Step 3: Use Ranked Only When Efficient

Ranked can be great for XP, but forcing weak mission cards into competitive games can cost wins. If a mission requires online stats, fine. If not, use offline modes to grind more comfortably.

Step 4: Push to Carlton

At 220,000 XP, Carlton gives you another free rotation option. Even if he does not become your ace, he gives useful depth.

Step 5: Finish the Boss Pack

The final climb to 400,000 XP is about consistency. Do not wait until the final weekend unless you enjoy stress.

Buy, Sell, or Hold After the 4th Inning Update

The 4th Inning Program affects the market because free rewards change demand.

When a strong free catcher enters the game, paid catchers may lose appeal. When a free starter becomes available, budget pitchers can drop. When boss cards release, their prices may spike early before settling.

Buy

Buy cards that dropped because of panic selling but still have real value.

Good buy candidates are usually:

• Elite bullpen arms
• Scarce-position defenders
• Switch hitters
• Collection cards
• Cards with great swings that got overshadowed by new content

Sell

Sell cards that are expensive only because of hype.

This includes:

• New cards with inflated day-one prices
• Cards replaced by free rewards
• Bench-only bats worth too many stubs
• Duplicates from packs
• Cards you do not use

Hold

Hold cards that may matter for collections or have limited supply.

Especially:

• Boss cards
• Event rewards
• Rare series cards
• Cards tied to future collection requirements

The hard part is emotional. Players fall in love with names. But stubs are resources, and every card sitting unused in your inventory has an opportunity cost.

No-Money-Spent Strategy: What to Do First

If you are no-money-spent, this program is actually friendly.

Not easy.
Friendly.

You get a usable catcher early, a free lefty starter later, and a boss choice at the end. That is a real foundation.

NMS Priority Order

Best NMS Choice

For most no-money-spent players, Clemens is the better boss pick unless your rotation is already loaded.

Why?

Because free elite bats usually become available more often than free ace-level starters. Pitching also protects your bullpen and gives you a better chance in Ranked even when your lineup is not perfect.

Common Myths About the 4th Inning Tier List

Myth 1: The Highest Overall Card Is Always the Best Card

No.

Overall rating is a summary. It is not the whole story. Swing, position, pitch mix, release, quirks, and role all matter.

A card that feels right can outperform a card that looks better.

Myth 2: Outlier Velocity Means You Cannot Lose

Also no.

Velocity is dangerous, but predictable velocity is batting practice for good players. If you take Clemens and throw fastballs every time you are behind in the count, strong opponents will punish you.

Myth 3: Free Cards Are Just Collection Filler

Piazza proves otherwise.

A free catcher who can hit is not filler. Carlton is not filler for players who need rotation depth. The 4th Inning path has real usable rewards.

Myth 4: Defense Does Not Matter

Defense matters most when the game is close.

You may not notice one bad animation in a blowout. You will notice it in the ninth inning of a one-run Ranked game.

Final 4th Inning Tier List Verdict

Here is the clean version.

The 4th Inning Program works because it gives different types of players something meaningful.

Competitive players get a boss decision that matters.
No-money-spent players get real free upgrades.
Collectors get cards that may matter later.
Casual players get a long enough window to finish without treating the game like a second job.

If you want the safest path, grind early, claim Piazza, stack missions, push for Carlton, and take Roger Clemens unless your lineup badly needs Rafael Devers.

That is the practical answer.

Not the flashiest.
Not the loudest.
But probably the one that wins more games.

And if you need extra stubs to round out your squad, you can buy MLB The Show 26 stubs on U4GM.com—just be smart with your budget and avoid overpaying for cards during the first wave of update hype.