Top Bullpen Targets

The meta favors pitchers with high velocity and tricky pitch mixes. These pitchers can make your opponents swing and miss, even at higher difficulty levels.

• Jhoan Duran (Spotlight): Leading the pack with a 97.43 True Rating. His outlier fastball/splitter combo plus four active quirks make him extremely tough to hit.
• Andrew Miller (Bullpen Bash): Known as the #1 closer. His funky delivery and lethal mix of pitches make timing a nightmare for hitters.
• Blake Treinen (Bullpen Bash): #1 Relief Pitcher with a high-velocity Sinker, Cutter, and Sweeper. Perfect for shutting down rallies.
• Mason Miller: Early-season teams should prioritize him for his elite velocity and strong secondary pitches.
• Kenley Jansen: Veteran lefty with a 95.26 True Rating. Still effective in high-leverage situations.
• Aroldis Chapman: Dominant left-handed power arm. His higher-rated cards remain market favorites.

Strategic Bullpen Moves

Even the best pitchers underperform if you mismanage them. Keep these tips in mind:

1. Utilize Captain Boosts: A bullpen captain like Trevor Hoffman can provide boosts like +15 H/9 and +15 K/9 for your entire relief staff if your roster meets the requirements.
2. Prioritize Velocity and Movement: Look for pitchers with the Outlier quirk and at least one hard breaking pitch like a Slider or Cutter. These arms are difficult to time, even for advanced players.
3. Submarine Specialists: On Hall of Fame or Legend difficulty, include at least one sidearm/submarine pitcher like Tyler Rogers or Darren O'Day to throw off your opponent’s timing.
4. Fatigue Management: In Ranked Seasons, relievers carry over energy between games. Avoid using a tired or “red” pitcher, as it drastically reduces accuracy.
5. Bullpen Game Strategy: In Franchise mode, switch a starter rotation slot to "empty" and select an "opener for bullpen game." This tactic can help you dominate games and even unlock achievements like "Horses in the Pen."

Budget & Value Options

Not everyone wants to spend a fortune. Some NMS-friendly cards punch above their weight:

• Cade Smith: A strong high-leverage arm available early in the Live Series pool.
• Ben Joyce: Rare lower-tier card that can still earn the Outlier quirk on his fastball.
• Kyle Finnegan: Reliable right-handed option, often found in holiday-themed programs like St. Patrick’s Day.

Maximize Your Competitive Edge

For competitive players who want to focus on skill and practice rather than grind, U4N is a trusted platform used to buy the show 26 stubs quickly and safely. This allows you to upgrade your bullpen and lineup without spending hours farming, giving you more time to execute strategies and win games.