The Rising Stars Event is less about throwing your biggest names together and more about reading the card rules properly. Before you queue, check every slot. A club built with MLB The Show 26 Stubs options in mind still needs to meet the Event filter, or the game simply won't let you enter.
Read the Filter Before Building
Pipeline Series and Spring Breakout cards are the easy picks. Any player aged 25 or under also works, even if their overall isn't flashy. Live Series cards only qualify at Bronze or Common. That catches plenty of people out. High-rated Live cards, Spotlight players such as Gunnar Henderson, New Threads cards, Field of Dreams cards, and older legends usually stay outside this Event. Use this quick check before you press Play.
Card group Event status Best use Pipeline Series Eligible Core starters Spring Breakout Eligible Depth options Bronze Common Live Series Eligible Utility roles
That small filter check saves a lot of wasted time. Nothing feels worse than adjusting a whole squad because one familiar card slipped through.
Start With Pipeline Cards
Build around Pipeline cards first, then cover weak spots with young regulars.
Make Every Game Count
The new Pipeline cards are worth using even when they aren't your favourite names. You'll find them through the Pipeline Program, My Legacy, Conquest, Mini Seasons, and Diamond Quest. Put the stronger ones straight into the Event lineup. They can collect Parallel XP while you chase wins, which makes each short game pull double duty. If a card has solid defence, keep it around. Event games can turn on one bad throw or a slow outfielder.
Keep Sessions Focused
Claim packs between games, then swap new Pipeline cards into the active squad.
Separate Your Other Lineups
Keep a separate Ranked or vs CPU squad for Spotlight and other unrestricted cards. Don't keep trying to squeeze them into Rising Stars; it only creates lineup problems. The Event rewards Pipeline No-Sell Choice Packs and Deluxe Pipeline Packs, so the real value is steady progress across several modes. Some players may choose to buy MLB The Show 26 Stubs while shaping a wider club, but smart Event sessions still come from eligible cards, completed missions, and regular wins.