The Subway Series Program is a great addition to MLB The Show 26 Diamond Dynasty, especially if you need a strong left-handed reliever. The headline reward for many players is 99 OVR John Franco, a former New York Mets closer with one of the nastier pitch mixes available in the bullpen. Before spending your MLB Stubs on another relief pitcher, this free card is worth unlocking first.
How to Unlock John Franco
John Franco is available at just 20 Program Points, making him one of the easiest major rewards to grab from the program.
The reward path includes:
• 10 Points: Ballin' is a Habit Pack
• 20 Points: 99 OVR John Franco
• 30 Points: 99 OVR Mike Mussina
• 40 Points: 99 OVR Derek Jeter
• 50 Points: 99 OVR Mike Piazza
• 2,000 XP with each player-card reward
The good news is that you do not need to finish the entire program just to get Franco. If you want to buy MLB Stubs for other upgrades, you can grab Franco first and save your resources for positions where your roster actually needs help.
Why John Franco Is So Good
Franco's biggest advantage is his unusual five-pitch arsenal. His 74 MPH screwball has 99 Break, giving you a huge speed difference from his harder pitches.
His arsenal includes:
• Screwball: 74 MPH, 99 Break
• Sinker: Around 93 MPH
• Slider
• Four-Seam Fastball
• Circle Changeup
The screwball is the pitch that makes this card especially annoying to face. A hitter sitting on the sinker can easily be early on the slow breaking pitch, while a batter waiting for the screwball can be attacked with something harder.
Franco's Key Pitching Attributes
The 99 OVR card also has excellent ratings for a late-inning reliever:
• 125 H/9 vs. RHB
• 125 H/9 vs. LHB
• 125 K/9 vs. RHB
• 125 K/9 vs. LHB
• 125 Pitching Control
• 115 Pitching Clutch
That combination makes Franco useful in tight games. He is not simply a pitcher you bring in because he throws hard; his value comes from controlling the at-bat and changing speeds.
For players searching for cheap MLB Stubs, Franco is particularly attractive because you can get a competitive bullpen piece through gameplay instead of spending heavily on the market.
Fastest Way to Complete the Program
The easiest route is the Subway Series Conquest map. Completing the map gives 50 Program Points, which is enough to finish the entire program.
You can also progress through Moments and team-based Missions involving Mets and Yankees players. Important objectives include:
• Earn 16 total bases with Mets or Yankees players
• Hit 2 home runs with Mets or Yankees players
• Earn PXP with players from either team
• Record hits and strikeouts with eligible players
Recommended Strategy
Build a lineup containing both Mets and Yankees hitters before starting the Conquest map. Use power hitters to work on the home-run and total-base requirements while using strong pitchers to handle the strikeout objectives.
If you prefer offline gameplay, Conquest is easily the most convenient option. You can work on several objectives at the same time and finish the full program without needing Ranked Seasons games.
Is John Franco Worth It?
Absolutely. Franco is especially useful if your bullpen lacks a reliable lefty. His slow screwball, sinker, and other secondary pitches give you plenty of ways to disrupt hitters, while his elite control and H/9 ratings make him dependable in high-pressure innings.
Complete the Subway Series Program, grab Franco at 20 points, and then decide whether you want to continue toward Mussina, Jeter, and Piazza. That approach lets you improve your bullpen first while keeping your MLB Stubs for sale budget available for other Diamond Dynasty upgrades.
Comments