MLB The Show 26 Summer Collection Guide:Fastest and Cheapest Way to Get 98 Skubal

What is the most cost-effective way to get 98 Tarik Skubal in MLB The Show 26? Buying him directly costs a huge amount of MLB The Show 26 Stubs, and grinding blindly without a plan feels like a complete waste of time. I have got a better route for you:start with moments and missions to grab the free cards, then hit Conquest and Mini Seasons to stack up 18 cards, and finally spend around 130K stubs to fill in whatever is left. I have broken down every single step so you can follow along and knock this out without the headache.

IS THIS 98 SKUBAL WORTH THE GRIND?

The short answer:yes.

98 Skubal is a left-handed pitcher with Outlier quirk and a funky release that batters struggle to read. His hitting and pitching stats are both 9s across the board, making him one of cheap MLB Stubs the best value pitchers available right now.

Along the way, you will also pick up useful cards like Corey Seager, Kyle Tucker, and Ted Williams. The full collection requires 29 cards total, but you can earn 18 of them for free through offline grinding. The remaining cards will cost you around 130K to 140K stubs-a very reasonable price for a 98 overall pitcher.

START WITH THE PROGRAM:MOMENTS FIRST, MISSIONS NEXT

Head to the Summer Program first. Complete the moments right away-they are quick and easy. Then move on to the missions, which are straightforward:

Strikeouts with starting pitchers, relievers, and closers

Hits with infielders, outfielders, catchers, and DH

Parallel XP with Summer Series players

You will need to complete 8 of the 10-star missions to earn enough stars. This program gives you five free players, including Corey Seager and Corey Kluber. Seager is a fan-favorite with a smooth swing that players love.

CONQUEST MODE:KNOCK OUT MULTIPLE GOALS AT ONCE

Conquest mode features 15 strongholds, giving you plenty of games to rack up strikeouts and hits for your missions.

What you will earn:

Summer Deluxe Packs (contain free collection cards)

Premier Packs (high stub value)

95 Zack Neto (needed for the collection)

Pro tip:Build a bunting team with 99 bunting stats across the board, and head straight to the strongholds. The bunting method works well even on high difficulties and will help you clear Conquest quickly.

If Conquest is not your style, Mini Seasons is a solid backup. Play on Rookie difficulty and breeze through the goals.

EVENTS AND DIAMOND QUEST:FILL IN THE REMAINING CARDS

Events mode takes about 3 to 4 games to earn Roman Anthony and deluxe packs. It does not take much time.

For Diamond Quest, use your bunting team and head straight to the strongholds. Your targets are Dickey Thon and Gary Sheffield-both sell for 40K to 50K stubs on the marketplace, so getting them for free saves you a lot. The entire run takes about 45 minutes.

KEY STRATEGY:SKIP THE TWO EXPENSIVE CARDS

Here is the most important tip:the program gives you two free skips. Use them on Willie Castro and Roman Anthony-these two cards cost 90K to 100K stubs each. Skipping them saves you a fortune.

After all your grinding, you will have 18 free cards:13 from various modes, 3 from Summer Deluxe Packs, and 2 from collection missions. You will need to buy the remaining 11 cards. At current market prices, that will cost roughly 135K to 141K stubs.

COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID

Do not buy cards too early. Market prices fluctuate. Grind your free cards first, then buy what you still need.

Do not skip the moments. They are simple but the stars they provide are valuable.

Do not overlook the bunting team. In high-difficulty Conquest games, bunting is the most reliable way to win.

WHO THIS GUIDE IS FOR

Grinders:Players willing to put in the time to save stubs

Budget-conscious players:Those who want a strong team without spending real money

Collection enthusiasts:Players who enjoy completing sets and earning top-tier rewards

New players:Step-by-step instructions that make the process easy to follow

QUICK TIPS

Start with moments, then move to missions, then finish with Conquest and Mini Seasons

Use your two free skips on the most expensive cards

Check marketplace prices before buying-they may drop further

A bunting team is the fastest way through Conquest

The full grind takes a few days, but the stubs you save are well worth the time

CORE BENEFITS FOR DIFFERENT PLAYER TYPES

New players:A complete collection walkthrough that avoids wasting stubs, with clear steps to get a top-tier card

Free-to-play/low-spend players:Trade time for stubs and save hundreds of thousands without spending real money

Collection enthusiasts:Get 98 Skubal plus a stack of useful cards all in one collection

Competitive players:Add Skubal directly to your rotation and boost your starting pitching for online play