Statis-Pro Baseball Playoffs Set

The 2020 Statis-Pro playoffs are set. Here are the brackets, and the playoff game results will be filled in below, while the final regular season update is here. The first 4 series will be best-of-5, and the second series and beyond will be best-of-7 series. If you do not own a Statis-pro baseball game you can try it by clicking on the free version and the so e preliminary player cards and score sheet for each of the 30 teams, which now includes cards for all 30 teams based on Zips projections.

Pitching rest rules for playoffs. Starter must rest 3 games (4-man rotation). A reliever must rest if he pitches to more than 5 batters BUT if he only pitches in one inning he does not need to rest. However, if he pitches in 2 straight games he just rest a game not matter how few batters he faces. If a reliever faces at least 12 batters then he must rest 2 games.

Playoff Game Results - Most Recent 1st (AL Scoresheets at bottom):

With 3 of the Final 4 Statis-Pro baseball teams matching the actual MLB season (Rays, Astros and Dodgers) it was the Reds rather than the Braves who grabbed the last Statis-Pro spot. In the real season, the Reds won 11 of their last 14 games to enter the playoffs hot, but the Braves barely survived several rallies to win in extra innings and then won the series 2 to 1.

However, in the Statis-Pro season it came down to the Reds vs. Dodgers to see who would face the Rays in the Statis-Pro World Series. Most recent game first:

Statis-Pro NLCS Game 4.

Dodgers needed a great start to stay out of that bullpen and they got it from Walker Buehler. In one stretch he fanned eight Reds in a row. His line: 9 IP, 4 H, R, 0 BB, 12K. Justin Turner and Will Smith had solo HR's. LA wins 3-1. Series tied 2-2.

Statis-Pro NLCS Game 3.

Another walk-off finish. Reds' bullpen fails again, as Amir Garrett (loser in game 1) enters a 3-3 game in 8th. Promptly walks 4 in a row and two eventually score, Dodgers lead 5-3 going to 9th. Not to be outdone Kenley Jansen gives up a 1B & 3B, making it 5-4. With the infield in, one groundout can't tie it. But Nick Castellanos ends it with a walk-off 2-run HR. Reds win 6-5. Cincinnati leads series 2-1.

Statis-Pro NLCS Game 2.

Unlikely heroes. After the Dodgers score first, Freddy Galvis smacks a 2-run HR. (left handed) Later in the 7th, Galvis hits a 3-run HR (right handed). Former Astros great Wade Miley gives a strong start and the Reds win 5-2. Series tied 1-1.

NLCS Game 1.

Could the Reds' magic continue? Nick Castellanos drives in three and helps build a 3-1 lead in the 8th. But the Dodgers scratch out 2 runs to tie it. In the bottom 9th, Max Muncy with the clutch walk-off double wins it for LA 4-3. A crushing bullpen collapse for the underdog Reds.

NL Wildcard Game 5 - Reds 3, DBacks 2 (11 innings)

A brilliant pitcher's duel, scoreless until the 7th when Eduardo Escobar launched a solo HR. Madison Bumgarner comes up big again with 8 shutout innings. But he runs out of gas and they have to go to their new young closer. Ginkel gives up a double, error, sac fly and Reds scratch out a run, 1-1 going to extra innings. Arizona looks good again when Nick Ahmed rips an RBI double in the 11th, 2-1 D'backs. But Reds' fans favorite new player Nick Castellanos comes through with a clutch 2-run double to walk off the series. Reds win game 3-2 in 11, and take series 3-2. Next is NLDS vs. Washington.

AL Wildcard Game 5 - A's 2, Twins 1 (10 innings)

Rich Hill pitched 8 2-3rds shout-out inning, allowing only 4 baserunners until Mark Canha homered to tie the game 1-1. With both PB 2-9 closers still in the game for the 10th, fielding made the difference. Buxton singled, the Sano's drive in the gap appeared to be a double only to have A's center fielder make a clutch defensive play to cut it off and hold him to a single and preserver the lead. Hendriks then struck out Donaldson and Cruz to end the inning. 

In the bottom of the 10th the A's Piscotty led off with a grounder to shortstop but Arraez threw it away (we do not start a man on second base in extra innings in the playoffs like the regular season). Twins closer Rogers then walked, and due to the lefty v lefty Kemp laid down a rare sac bunt to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. The speedy Orf pinch ran on 3rd base. Semien, who had singled the three previous at bats, hit a grounder to third and Orf beat the throw home to give the A's a comeback series win - not only trailing until the last out but also winning three straight after being down 2 games to 0.  Laureano was MVP for the series, with 11 hits in 22 at bats, including 5 doubles and a Homer in addition to the clutch defense.

A's win series 3-2, and next face the Rays.

After those two thrillers, the four best-of-seven series are set:

Reds at Dodgers

Cubs at Nationals

A's at Rays

Yankees at Astros

AL Wildcard Game 4 - A's 12, Twins 2

Oakland won to force a decisive Game 5 with 5 homers and 5 doubles in the first 5 innings alone. The first two batters, Semien and Lauren, both homered and doubled as the piled up a 12-0 lead through 4 1-2 innings. Montas, who was ejected from Game 2 after just one batter, came back to throw 7 2-3rds innings to save the bullpen for Game 5. Series tied 2-2 and heading back to Oakland - visitors have won all 4 games.

NL Wildcard Game 4 - DBacks 6, Reds 1

After a 1-1 start through the 4th, Stephen Vogt smacks a 2-run HR. The next inning Christian Walker hits a clutch 3-run HR and it is all over. Merrill Kelly with a surprisingly strong 8 innings as Arizona rolls 6-1. Series tied 2-2.

AL Wildcard Game 3 - A's 4, Twins 1

AJ Puk delivered the all-time clutch performance with 1-hit ball for 8 innings, and Chapman reached 3 times, scoring twice and adding an RBI double as Oakland took a 4-0 lead into the 9th. Laureano misplayed Sano's 9th inning drive into an RBI double to make it 4-1, forcing closer Hendriks to nail down the win. Hendricks will need to sit out Game 4 due to pitching in consecutive games, however three other strong relievers can pitch for the A's AND No. 2 starter Montas can start Game 4 since he only pitched to one batter before he was ejected in Game 2. This also means the normal No. 4 starter gives and extra long relief lefty in game 4 as well. Twins still lead 2 games to 1.

NL Wildcard Game 3 - Cubs 9, Braves 7

First upset of the 2020 playoffs. The only sub-500 team, ranked last in runs scored, the Cubs sweep the Braves. 🧹 ⚾️ Willson Contreras goes 6-9 with 3HR's in series. He helps Chicago erase a 4-run deficit and roll to a 9-7 win to clinch the sweep. It will be Cubs vs Dodgers in NLDS.

AL Wildcard Game 3 - Yankees 9, White Sox 3

LeMahieu singled and scored in the 5th, then doubled to key a 2-run 5th of keuchel to finish as a series co-MVP as the only player in the series on either team 5 hits. The Yankees out up 24 hits and 16 runs in the last 2 games but only scored 2 runs in Game 1. They only won that game 2-1 because Cole allowed only and unearned run in a complete game with 14 strikeouts and only 3 hits and a walk allowed. The Yankees sweep the series 3-0 and will face the Astros with Cole vs. Verlander in Game 1.

NL Wildcard Game 3 - Reds 4, Braves 3

Mr. Clutch, Eugenio Suarez with an RBI single in the 6th, breaks a 3-3 tie. The Reds bullpen barely holds on (2 bases loaded jams) and they win 4-3. Cincinnati leads series 2-1.

AL Wildcard Game 2 - Twins 7, A's 2

When A's starter Montas was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the first inning, Fiers came in for 5.2 scoreless emergency innings to give the A's a 2-0 lead going into the 7-8-9 relievers. However Donaldson homered in the 7th to pull the Twins within 2-1. Set up man Diekman then could not get an out in the 8th, allowing singles by Rosario, Polanco and Garver before walking leadoff many Buxton to tie it 2-2. Closer Hendriks came in an almost bailed him out with a strike out and foul out, but Donaldson's 2-out, 2-run single was the game winner. Twins lead 2 games to none.

AL Wildcard Game 2 - Yankees 7, White Sox 3

Aaron Judge hit a 2-run HR in 1st, singled and scored in the 3rd and then hit an RBI double in the 4th to make it 5-1 Yankees en route to a 7-3 win. Yankees lead 2 games to 0. 

NL Wildcard Game 2 - Chicago Cubs 5, Atlanta 0

Yu Darvish takes a no-hitter into the 7th. Finishes 8 IP, 2H, 0R. Willson Contreras belts two home runs. Cubs win 5-0. Chicago leads series 2-0.

NL Wildcard Game 2 - Arizona 2, Cincinnati 0

Luke Weaver is the story with 7-shutout innings. Katel Marte with a solo homer and Nick Ahmed RBI single. Reds load the bases in the ninth but no magic this time. Arizona wins 2-0. Series tied 1-1.

AL Wildcard Game 1 - NY Yankees 2, ChiSox 1

Cole threw masterful complete game allowing 1 unearned run, 14 Ks, 1 W, 3 Hits to outfield Giolito. LeMahieu had 3 of the 8 hits in the game including an HR, and Voit greeted closer Frye with a sac fly for the final margin. Yankees lead 1 game to 0.

AL Wildcard Game 1 - Twins 7, A's 4

22 of 49 Twins reached base, including all 9 batters at least once and Donaldson his first 5 times for the 7-4 win. Rich Hill and three relievers allowed no earned runs to Oakland, but four A's errors on the left side of the infield led to 4 unearned runs - all in the first inning. Minnesota leads 1 game to 0 and is looking for extra fielding practice before Game 2.

NL Wildcard Game 1 - Chicago Cubs 6, Atlanta 5 (Cubs lead 1-0)

Top run scoring team in Statis-Pro NL (Braves) vs. Lowest run scoring team (Cubs). Chicago almost blows 5-run lead. Braves about to tie it in bottom 9th, Markakis singles, Culberson heading home when Jason Heyward unleashes perfect (88) throw to cut him down at the plate. Cubs win opener 6-5.

NL Wildcard Game 1 - Reds 4, Arizona 3 (Reds lead 1 game to 0 in best of 5)

Reds lead 2-0, then Akiyama with huge error in 8th leads to big inning and Arizona takes 3-2 lead. But All-Star game MVP Eugenio Suarez smacks a 2-run HR in bottom of inning and Reds go on to win game 1 by a final 4-3.

Playoffs set

In the AL, five of the six teams to make the playoffs were in the top 6 in the actual standings at the time - only the Cleveland Indians did NOT make it and the New York Yankees did make the Statis-Pro playoffs. In the much more balanced NL, the three teams actually leading the NL divisions all made the Statis-Pro playoffs - the LA Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta. However, the three teams clinging to second place in real play (San Diego, St. Louis and Philadelphia - were replaced by the Reds, Diamondbacks and Nationals.