MMOexp:MLB The Show 26 Pitching Tips:The Tunneling Tactic That Keeps Hitters Guessing

In MLB The Show 26, why can some pitchers totally confuse the best hitters while your fastball keeps getting crushed out of the park? Are you just trying to throw harder and harder? The truth is, the real secret weapon that makes batters look foolish is called "pitch tunneling." Learn this one technique, and you don't need 102 mph to get swing-and-miss strikeouts. Plus, mastering tunneling helps you earn more MLB The Show 26 Stubs by dominating games and completing challenges faster. This guide breaks down five tips to take you from random throwing to complete control on the mound.

TIP ONE:UNDERSTAND WHAT PITCH TUNNELING REALLY IS

Pitch tunneling is not magic. It means making two different pitches follow the exact same path out of your hand for the first 20 to 30 feet. The batter sees the ball coming and thinks it is the same pitch as before. By the time they realize it is not, they have already swung. This is like a magic trick. The release point is identical, but the final destination is completely different. Master this, and you master deception.

TIP TWO:MASTER THE SINKER AND CUTTER COMBO

The sinker plus cutter is the strongest tunnel combination in the game. The sinker drops down and runs inside toward the hitter's hands. The cutter stays flat longer and breaks away to the outside edge. Both pitches leave the same tunnel, so the batter cannot tell them apart. Throw a sinker first, then throw a cutter that starts at the same spot but moves outside. Most batters will swing early or hit a weak grounder. The key is keeping your release point identical for both pitches.

TIP THREE:USE FASTBALL TO OFF-SPEED FOR TIMING CONFUSION

The 4-seam fastball and circle changeup are another deadly tunnel. The fastball explodes out of the tunnel. The changeup follows the exact same path but arrives 10 to 15 mph slower. The batter expects heat and swings way too early, missing completely. To make this work, your arm angle and release point must be mechanically perfect. You also cannot show any change in your motion. Use pitchers with high velocity on their fastball and big break on their changeup, like Burnes or King.

TIP FOUR:PICK THE RIGHT PITCHER FOR TUNNELING

Not every pitcher can tunnel well. You need pitchers whose pitch mix naturally works together. Here are some of the best tunnel pitchers:Corbin Burnes has the same release window for his sinker, cutter, and slider. Michael King has weird, glitchy movement on his sinker and slider. Al Leiter creates a huge speed difference between his sinker and changeup. On a budget, try Clemens or Ubaldo Jiménez for under 10,000 Stubs. They still give you strong tunnel potential.

TIP FIVE:STAY CONSISTENT WITH YOUR RELEASE POINT

Tunneling fails immediately if your release point changes from pitch to pitch. Your eyes must lock onto the exact spot where the ball leaves your hand. Switch your pitching camera to Strike Zone or Pitcher Center. Do not watch the strike zone. Watch the release point only. Then go into custom practice mode and repeat every pitch until even you cannot tell which pitch you threw when it leaves your hand.

SUMMARY

This guide is for any player who wants to stop getting crushed and start dominating the mound with skill. Whether you struggle in Ranked Seasons, level up in Road to the Show, or build your Diamond Dynasty team, you will learn how to pitch with your brain instead of buy MLB The Show 26 Stubs just your arm.

QUICK TIP

A tunnel only works if you change your spot. Throwing the same combo to the same location will get read quickly. Move your tunnel entry point to inside, outside, high, and low. But keep your release point exactly the same every time.

CORE BENEFITS FOR DIFFERENT PLAYERS

Ranked Seasons Players:Disrupt elite hitters and lower your ERA
Road to the Show Players:Earn more experience points by striking out more batters
Diamond Dynasty Players:Get ace-level performance from budget pitchers and save Stubs
Casual Players:Make your friends swing at air and win easily in head-to-head games