MLB The Show 25 Pitching Guide – Best Interfaces & Pitch Types

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In our MLB The Show 25 Pitching Handbook, we’ll explore the game’s controls, pitching interfaces, various pitch types, and other essential knowledge to help you strive towards winning the Cy Young award. Essentially, pitching maintains a familiar feel compared to past versions; however, we’re here to offer helpful hints for both novice and returning players. Let’s jump straight into it!

MLB The Show 25 Guide – What’s The Best Pitching Interface?

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In summary, “Pinpoint stands out as the top Pitching Interface in MLB The Show 25.” Similar to how the Zone Interface can be challenging for batters to grasp, Pinpoint is more complex than other interfaces. Yet, it provides exceptional control over your pitch, enabling pinpoint precision when throwing.

Nonetheless, novice players are welcome to experiment with other available pitching options, some of which have returned:

  • Meter – The player uses a meter by pressing a button when the needle lands at the optimal spot.
  • Pulse – A timing-based Interface where the player taps the moment the pulse circle reaches its smallest point.
  • Classic – Player only needs to select pitch type and aim. Other elements are based off player ratings & attributes.
  • Pure Analog – Player uses both analog sticks – right for wind-up, left for aiming

Pulse is incredibly user-friendly while maintaining a decent level of accuracy. Essentially, this interface aids players in mastering their rhythm without relying too heavily on joysticks. Being a person who occasionally encounters stick drift, the feel of Pulse is quite satisfying.

If you’re more comfortable with the sticks, then I recommend giving Pure Analog a try. It might be less challenging to grasp compared to Pinpoint, and it maintains a good level of pitch precision. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to use both sticks simultaneously, so do remember to practice extensively with this one.

Meter, in essence, revolves around timing and individual player traits. When playing alongside high-tier pitchers such as Gerrit Cole or Chris Sale, using Meter tends to be straightforward. However, when you employ less skilled pitchers, the pace of the meter significantly quickens. In other words, if you opt for Meter, be ready to adapt according to each player’s proficiency level.

Personally speaking, if you’re an old-school gaming enthusiast yearning for a straightforward experience, I’d suggest you go for the Classic Mode. This mode focuses solely on your rating and attributes, making it a breeze to choose a Pitch Type and aim. It may seem overly basic to some, but its simplicity means minimal understanding of the game is required to dive right in!

Pitching Tips & Tricks – MLB The Show 25 Pitching Guide

If you’re new to baseball, you may be unfamiliar with various pitch types and the appropriate times to employ them. Here, we have compiled a list of Pitch Types and their descriptions for your convenience:

1. Fastball: A fastball is the most basic type of pitch in baseball, thrown at maximum velocity towards home plate. It is often used as a strikeout pitch or when the batter is off-balance.

2. Slider: A slider is a breaking ball that moves sideways upon release and can be effective against left-handed batters. The pitcher throws it with a flick of the wrist, causing it to break sharply towards the plate or away from it.

3. Curveball: The curveball is another breaking pitch that breaks downward and to the outside corner of home plate when thrown properly. It can be used against both left-handed and right-handed batters.

4. Changeup: A changeup is a deceptive pitch, thrown slower than the fastball to confuse the batter and make it appear as if the pitcher is throwing a fastball. The changeup should appear similar to the fastball until just before release, at which point the pitcher’s wrist should roll over the ball to slow it down.

5. Knuckleball: A knuckleball is a unique pitch that relies on the pitcher manipulating the seams of the baseball with his fingers to create unpredictable movement in flight. It can be difficult for even experienced batters to hit effectively.

  • All Fastball Types
    • Four-Seam
    • Two-Seam
    • Cutter
    • Splitter
  • All Breaking Ball Types
    • Curveball
    • Screwball
    • Slider
    • Slurve
  • Off-Speed
    • Changeup
    • Circle Changeup
    • Forkball
    • Knuckleball

In simple terms, a Fastball is the quickest pitch thrown; it’s the speediest in the game. Conversely, Breaking Balls are pitched at slower speeds, but their unpredictable movement confuses batters. Lastly, Off-Speed pitches mimic Fastballs, but they behave more like Breaking Balls, tricking batters into thinking it’s a fast pitch while moving erratically.

As a gamer, remember not to get overwhelmed by the various types of pitches. The key is to mix up your throws and adjust your targets throughout the game. Avoid throwing nothing but Fastballs at the center point each time, and resist the urge to be too clever with Breaking Balls on every pitch. Instead, maintain a balanced approach for success!

Fundamentally, your strategy should be to keep your rival unsure by attacking from various angles, such as high, low, corners, and occasionally the center. Regarding the pitch types, while none are universally “best,” I typically employ Four-Seamers or Two-Seamers, and intersperse these with a sprinkling of Off-Speed and Breaking Balls.

Additionally, it’s crucial to consider your pitcher’s ratings and characteristics. A high-rated pitcher like Zack Wheeler (90 OVR) typically maintains a more stable performance compared to one with a 75 OVR. However, the majority of pitchers are capable (and shouldn’t be expected) to throw an entire nine-inning game. This is where substitutions become important.

During a baseball game, a starting pitcher’s performance tends to deteriorate after throwing a specific number of pitches. In such cases, it becomes necessary to replace them with Relief or Closing Pitchers. As the names imply, these players enter the game to take over from the starter, aiming to finish the match. Depending on how many innings are played in the game, you might need to use three different pitchers.

It’s optimal to swap your initial pitcher during the 7th or 8th inning based on the progression of the game. But if they are consistently striking out batters and keeping their pitch count low, it might be beneficial to let them continue throughout the entire game. Typically, you should replace a player when their performance starts to dip.

In summary, we’ve concluded our Handbook on Pitching Strategies for MLB The Show 25. Our aim is that this guide has clarified the controls, dynamics, pitch options, and fundamental aspects of pitching. Here’s wishing you numerous strikeouts in the upcoming matches!

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2025-03-19 20:39