2026-10-12. 10:09
The key to Horses in the Pen is an empty rotation spot. Before choosing an opener in MLB The Show 26, you'll need to move a starter into an available bullpen slot. That small change makes the bullpen game option accessible. If you're browsing MLB 26 stubs while planning your next session, this objective is worth fitting into a quick visit to Franchise. Highlight your fifth starter, swap him into an empty bullpen position, then return to the opening you've created in the rotation.
Get your Franchise ready
You'll need a Franchise save before making that adjustment, but there's little reason to spend ages on setup. From the main menu, start Franchise and choose either the default roster or the current roster. Pick whichever club you'd enjoy managing. The streamlined management option keeps the introduction moving, although full control also works if that's your preference. Once you've confirmed your team and moved past the introductory scenes, you'll reach the Franchise home screen. You can head straight for your pitching staff from there.
Find the opener option
Open the Manager tab and select Pitching Rotation. Your five starters appear on the left, with the relief pitchers on the right. After moving a starter out as described above, select the empty rotation slot itself. That's the detail to watch: simply putting a relief pitcher somewhere else on the staff doesn't follow the same process. The empty slot brings up a choice between assigning a conventional starter and choosing an opener for a bullpen game. Select the opener option, then choose a reliever from your bullpen.
Know when the objective is complete
Confirming that reliever as the opener is the action that unlocks Horses in the Pen. You don't need to advance the schedule or take the field, so there's no reason to launch a game just to finish the objective. It's worth 40 Gamerscore on Xbox and awards a Silver Trophy on PlayStation. For players working through Franchise milestones, that makes it a convenient task to handle while checking the roster. The pitching assignment does the work; there's no innings target or performance requirement to chase afterward.
Keep the pitching plan practical
An opener starts the game before handing the ball to other pitchers, so this menu also gives you a different way to arrange your staff. If you're continuing the season, take a moment to check where the displaced starter ended up and whether you want to keep that setup. Players looking at cheap MLB The Show Stubs can keep this objective separate from those shopping plans. The steps here depend on assigning pitchers in Franchise, and you can complete them during the same visit to the rotation screen.
Get your Franchise ready
You'll need a Franchise save before making that adjustment, but there's little reason to spend ages on setup. From the main menu, start Franchise and choose either the default roster or the current roster. Pick whichever club you'd enjoy managing. The streamlined management option keeps the introduction moving, although full control also works if that's your preference. Once you've confirmed your team and moved past the introductory scenes, you'll reach the Franchise home screen. You can head straight for your pitching staff from there.
Find the opener option
Open the Manager tab and select Pitching Rotation. Your five starters appear on the left, with the relief pitchers on the right. After moving a starter out as described above, select the empty rotation slot itself. That's the detail to watch: simply putting a relief pitcher somewhere else on the staff doesn't follow the same process. The empty slot brings up a choice between assigning a conventional starter and choosing an opener for a bullpen game. Select the opener option, then choose a reliever from your bullpen.
Know when the objective is complete
Confirming that reliever as the opener is the action that unlocks Horses in the Pen. You don't need to advance the schedule or take the field, so there's no reason to launch a game just to finish the objective. It's worth 40 Gamerscore on Xbox and awards a Silver Trophy on PlayStation. For players working through Franchise milestones, that makes it a convenient task to handle while checking the roster. The pitching assignment does the work; there's no innings target or performance requirement to chase afterward.
Keep the pitching plan practical
An opener starts the game before handing the ball to other pitchers, so this menu also gives you a different way to arrange your staff. If you're continuing the season, take a moment to check where the displaced starter ended up and whether you want to keep that setup. Players looking at cheap MLB The Show Stubs can keep this objective separate from those shopping plans. The steps here depend on assigning pitchers in Franchise, and you can complete them during the same visit to the rotation screen.
