MLB The Show 26 just gave Diamond Dynasty players a real reason to log back in, especially if the rotation has been feeling a bit thin. The new 95 Overall Milestone Jacob deGrom can be earned without touching MLB 26 Stubs, which is exactly the kind of reward most players want at this point in the year. You don't need to gamble on packs or chase the market. You've just got to beat the new Extreme Showdown. It won't be easy, and that's the point. The mode throws a few tough moments at you before the last matchup with deGrom himself, but since it's repeatable, you can keep taking another run at it until things finally click.

Why This deGrom Card Matters

This Milestone deGrom is built like a card people will actually use, not just collect and forget. His 100 stamina means he can work deep into games, and the 92 control keeps him from feeling wild when pressure builds. The H/9 numbers sit in a strong spot against both sides of the plate, while his K/9 gives you enough swing-and-miss to survive online. His pitch mix helps a lot too. You get the four-seam fastball, slider, circle change, slurve, and sinker. That's a nasty set if you're willing to tunnel pitches and not just spam velocity every at-bat.

The Quirks Give Him Extra Bite

What really pushes deGrom over the line is the quirk package. Outlier is still a big deal, and it feels even more important this year because not every starter has it. Break Outlier also matters, especially with that slider. You'll notice it when hitters start chasing pitches that look hittable for half a second and then vanish off the zone. Homebody, Day Player, and Stopper round things out, but the velocity and movement quirks are the ones people will talk about. In Ranked, that combination can be annoying in the best possible way.

Lou Gehrig Content Adds More to Grind

The deGrom Showdown isn't the only thing worth playing right now. The Lou Gehrig Day Conquest map is another solid use of time, mainly because it hands out useful rewards without asking for anything extra. You can pick up the Lou Gehrig Day bat skin, standard packs, Headliner packs, Deluxe packs, Jumbo Show packs, and XP. There are usually hidden rewards tucked around maps like this too, so taking every territory is worth doing. On top of that, Lou Gehrig has a temporary 99 Overall supercharge, which gives anyone who owns him a short window to plug a monster bat into the lineup.

What to Watch Before the Next Collection

The new Andy Pettitte Headliner also gives players another pitching option, especially if you like lefties with control and a deep pitch mix. His cutter, curveball, circle change, sinker, and fastball make him more about sequencing than pure speed. Meanwhile, a lot of players are already looking ahead to the next Legends and Flashbacks Collection. Cards tied to names like Ketel Marte, Mickey Mantle, Jose Ramirez, and Jolt Series rewards could become important fast. If you'd rather save time than grind every missing piece, some players choose to buy MLB Stubs while others stick to programs, conquest maps, and showdowns. Either path works, but free deGrom is the kind of card you really shouldn't leave sitting there.