MLB Pickles is a daily web-based puzzle game created by Zach Ellis, designed specifically for fans who know their baseball rosters. Unlike a standard Wordle, you aren’t guessing letters; you are using statistics to guess the identity of a single, hidden Major League Baseball player. You get nine attempts to find the correct name.
When I first started playing games like this, I found the number of columns overwhelming. You aren’t solving one puzzle; you’re solving eight tiny puzzles simultaneously. Success depends entirely on correctly interpreting the color-coded feedback in every single column after each guess.
| Detail | Information |
| Game Name | MLB Pickles |
| Developer | Zach Ellis |
| Attempts | 9 Guesses |
| Reset | Daily at 12:00 AM ET |
| Website | mlbpickle.com |
The Seven Statistical Categories
When you enter a player’s name, the game checks your guess against the mystery player across the seven official categories. Your goal is to turn all seven columns Green before you run out of nine guesses.
The seven columns you must solve for are: TEAM, LG./DIV., B (Bats), T (Throws), BORN (Birth Country), AGE, and POS. (Position).
Solving MLB Pickles with Color and Arrow Clues
The color feedback is the single most important part of the game. If you misinterpret even one yellow or gray tile, your next guess will be wasted.
1. The Exact Matches (Green) and Eliminations (Gray)
Green (outlined) is the best result. It means that the stat for your guessed player is an exact match for the mystery player. Once a column is Green, you can ignore it for the rest of the game. Once all row turns green, that means you have successfully revealed the answer for the day.
If a column remains its default gray background after your guess, the stat you entered (e.g., the Team or Position) is not correct and is not close. This means that stat is definitely eliminated from the possibilities for the hidden player.
2. The Yellow (Dashed Outline) Clue
The Yellow (dashed outline) clue means you are close, but the context changes for each column. observing these rules is important for strategic guessing:
| Column | Rule for Yellow Clue | Strategic Insight |
|---|---|---|
| AGE | Yellow indicates 2 years within the player’s age. | You know the player is within that small 5-year window. Use your next guess to pick a player 2-3 years older or younger to narrow the range immediately. (e.g., if you guessed 30, try 27 or 33 next). |
| BORN (Country) | (This column follows a strict Green or Default logic as Country is an exact categorical match.) | Treat this like TEAM. If the column remains its default background, that country is eliminated. Because the majority of MLB players are from the US, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela, I always prioritize checking players from those non-US countries early. |
| Lg/Div | Yellow indicates the player plays in either the revealed League or Division. | This is incredibly powerful. You know at least half of the clue is correct. Use your next guess to check the other half. If you guessed NL West, try NL East next, or AL East to see if the League is the key. |
| POS. | Yellow indicates that this is the player’s alternate position. | The player is capable of playing the position you guessed, but it is not their primary role. Your next guess should target the primary position they are most famous for (e.g., if you guessed RF, their primary may be CF or SS/SP). |
| B (Bats) and T (Throws) | (These are binary choices: L, R, or S. If they are not Green, they remain the default background.) | Focus on these two early. If you get a Green here, you eliminate half the remaining players in one guess. |
My Winning Strategy for MLB Pickles
The best approach is to treat your first few turns as diagnostic tools to rapidly shrink the pool of possible players.
- My first guess is always a player with very average, central stats (mid-career age, average position like RF or 3B). I want to cast a wide net to get as many Yellow clues as possible. A well-known utility player often provides the best early data.
- After the first guess, prioritize Lg/Div and BORN (Country). If BORN remains the default color, you have eliminated a massive group of players. If you get a Yellow on Lg/Div, your second guess must isolate the League (e.g., stick with the AL and try a different Division in the AL).
- The AGE column’s Yellow clue is your most reliable numerical funnel. Once you know the 5-year range the player falls into, use your subsequent guesses to test the boundaries of that range until you hit Green.
- Once I have a Green on League and Bats/Throws, I use my third and fourth guesses to target players only on teams within that known division. You must be disciplined – if a team is eliminated (default background), stop guessing players from that team!
This focused deduction is what moves you toward the final name quickly. The puzzle is not about finding the name you know; it’s about systematically eliminating all the names you don’t.
Alternative Puzzle Games
If you enjoy the mix of trivia and logical deduction in MLB Pickles, you might also appreciate these other Wordle-inspired games like Heardle and Octordle.
