MLB The Show 26 2026 All-Star collection guide: fastest way to get Yordan Alvarez and cut your stub cost

The 2026 All-Star program and collection have just dropped in MLB The Show 26, and this is one of the biggest grinds in the game right now. If your goal is to unlock Yordan Alvarez, this guide breaks down the cheapest route, the fastest route, and every major source of cards you need to know, with MLB The Show 26 Stubsin mind.

Is Yordan Alvarez worth it?

Absolutely. Yordan is the prize card for this collection, and he looks elite.

Near-maximum contact when boosted

118 power vs right

117 power vs left

One of the best DH options in the game

Excellent swing feel

If you want a top-tier bat for your lineup, he is absolutely worth the grind.

How many cards do you need?

To get Yordan Alvarez, you need 43 cards for the collection.

There are already around 45–46 cards available, and more are expected later, including:

Home Run Derby cards

All-Star MVP cards

So if the collection feels expensive now, it may become easier later.

Start with the two All-Star programs

The most important free progress comes from the two split programs:

AL All-Stars

NL All-Stars

Each side gives:

10,000 XP

10 players

Rewards ranging from 95 to 98 overall

AL side highlights

Ends with 98 Nick Kurtz

NL side highlights

Ends with 98 Juan Soto

Both programs are major pieces of the collection path.

Fastest ways to earn stars

You can stack stars from multiple modes, and the game is very forgiving here.

Best early methods

Moments

Quick and easy

Gives 5 stars each

Total of 20 stars

Showdown

Very fast to complete

Gives 20 stars

Event

Gives 30 stars

Also rewards 97 Yandy Diaz

Includes a Premiere Pack and a Deluxe Pack

Mini Seasons

Gives 25 stars

Also gives a lot of XP and packs

Conquest

Gives 30 stars

Good reward, but slower than Mini Seasons

Best order to do things

If you want the fastest route, prioritize like this:

Moments

Showdown

Event

Mini Seasons

Conquest last

That order gives you fast stars first, then the bigger time investment later.

Easy bonus stars from older cards

You can also use older cards to get more progress.

Cards mentioned:

Mike Piazza

Ozzie Smith

Jackie Robinson

Stan Musial

Each one only needs 350 player XP and gives 7 stars.

That means 28 stars total from these four cards.

Don’t ignore Drake Baldwin

Drake Baldwin is a big free reward from the Fifth Inning program.

He is at 47,000 XP

He becomes much easier to get if you do:

Mini Seasons

Programs

Event progress

He is one of the most important free cards for lowering your collection cost.

Hidden Byron Buxton path

Byron Buxton is normally a chase-style card, but there is a hidden way to unlock him through programs.

To get him, you need:

250 runs

250 strikeouts

Progress using:

All-Star players

Draft players

Home Run Series players

250,000 player XP

This is a long-term grind, but it is a real path.

Weekend Classic cards can save you a lot

If you do well in Weekend Classic, you can grab cards like:

Jacob Misiorowski

Rollie Chapman

Ozzie Albies

You will usually only get two of them, but that can save a huge amount of stubs.

Collection cost breakdown

You need to buy all 15 Deluxe players from the pack side of the collection.

Estimated cost

The 15 Deluxe players: about 175k stubs

With free cards included, you can get to around 22 free cards

That brings the collection to roughly 40 cards with the listed additions

Total cost estimate

If you get the Weekend Classic cards: about 325.5k stubs

If you do not: about 625.5k stubs

That is why free rewards and pack luck matter so much here.

Final tips

Do the missions first

Prioritize Showdown and Event

Use Mini Seasons for packs and XP

Take every free card you can get

Don’t panic if you can’t finish right away, because more All-Star cards are coming, and you may want to buy MLB The Show 26 Stubs later if you need to speed things up.