MLB The Show 26's 4th Inning Program arrived on June 5, and it feels like a bigger grind than the first three innings. That's not a bad thing, really. It runs through the Fourth of July period and gives players more time to chip away at XP, packs, Stubs, and high-end cards. If you're trying to build a stronger Diamond Dynasty squad without wasting progress, keeping an eye on rewards and MLB 26 stubs can make the route feel a bit less messy. The main track stretches to 400,000 XP, with a Boss Choice Pack waiting at the end.
Program path rewards
The early part of the path is mostly about steady value. You'll pick up MLB The Show 26 packs, Ballin' is a Habit packs, Cityscapes Deluxe packs, and small Stub drops as you move through the first 50,000 XP or so. At 57,500 XP, the first big player reward shows up: 95 OVR All-Star Mike Piazza. After that, the path keeps mixing packs and currency, including Headliners, Mural Deluxe content, and more regular packs. It's the sort of program where you don't always feel a huge jump every few games, but the rewards do stack up if you play most days.
Key XP stops to watch
The middle and late sections are where the program gets more interesting. Steve Carlton arrives at 220,000 XP as a 96 OVR All-Star card, giving players another strong option before the bosses. The 85+ Live Series Pack at 340,000 XP is also worth noting, especially for anyone still filling out collections. The important milestones are pretty easy to remember.
- 57,500 XP: 95 OVR All-Star Mike Piazza.
- 220,000 XP: 96 OVR All-Star Steve Carlton.
- 340,000 XP: 85+ Live Series Pack.
- 400,000 XP: 4th Inning Boss Choice Pack.
Missions and extra XP
San Diego Studio also dropped the first batch of XP missions on day one, and they're useful if you don't want to rely only on normal gameplay. You can earn XP by getting 500 PXP with Topps Now Series players, 500 PXP with Cornerstone Series players, and 2,000 PXP with Spotlight Series players. There are also gameplay goals, including 50 hits in Weekend Classic or Ranked, plus 25 doubles in any mode and on any difficulty. That last one is nice because you don't have to force yourself into one specific mode. Just play, gap the ball, and let it come.
Bosses and the end date
The two mini-bosses are Mike Piazza and Steve Carlton, while the main 4th Inning bosses are Rafael Devers and Roger Clemens. Once you hit 400,000 XP and claim the Boss Choice Pack, the program doesn't just go quiet. A reward wheel opens up for every extra 30,000 XP earned after that, so there's still a reason to keep playing. The program expires on July 9, 2026, which gives players a decent window to finish the grind, plan around events, and use cheap MLB 26 stubs wisely while building out the rest of their roster.