Both of our Statis-Pro NLDS Series featured 11-inning classics. The Dodgers-Cubs game is detailed below, and you can click on this Braves-Phillies highlights. Both posts include a play-by-play scoresheet.
The Dodgers dominated our Statis-Pro season with a 36-18 mark, while the Cubs got a wild card 8 games behind them at 34-32. During the actual season the Dodgers were almost as good at 100-62 but were swept three games to none by the 84-78 Arizona Diamondbacks who beat the Cubs for the last playoff spot by one game. This series could have been the match-up if the Cubs won just one more game this season.
We picked a great day to keep our scoresheet in the computer so we could print the Cubs at Dodgers Game 1 below, in an 11th inning Statis-Pro classic. (Update: We have now updated for the whole series - just scroll down to look for Game 1, 2 etc. headers.)
Game 1 - After Stunning Sweep in Real MLB, LAD Opens with Another Loss
In this Statis-Pro game, it appeared the Cubs might have repeated the Diamondbacks upset of the Dodgers, as they won a thrilling 4-3 game in 11 innings. In the photo I am holding up the card of Dansby Swanson, whose top Clutch Defense (CD5) led to a game saving play in the field in addition to his big 2 RBIs late. On the scoresheet below we listed each players fielding, and while the Error (E) and Throwing arm (T) vary by position, a CD5 like Swanson always means a gold glove level fielder, CD4 is strong, CD3 is average fielding, CD2 is below average and CD1 is very low.
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Notes on the scoresheet. Clayton Kershaw and Justin Steele did not disappoint in their starts, both allowing just one run in 7 innings. The number below each opposing line-up shows they both started with 15 of endurance (SR 15). That number drops by 1 every time they allow someone on base unless its an error, and another one if the runner scores, and then they drop another number at the end of each inning.
That means Kershaw started at 15, was a 12 after the 1st inning, a 10 after the second inning etc. Neither pitcher ever ran out of endurance, but they both have a 7 IP maximum innings pitched so came out then or their PB would have been reduced by 1 to start the 8th inning and continued to drop 1 on the PB instead of just dropping the SR 1 for the same.
Most of the results probably make sense, but an "a" after a result means a runner advanced on the out, and an "r" means a run scored on the play. A (np) means a new pitcher came in the game and pitched to that batter. a "2ndb" in the extra innings indicates that player started on second base out the outset of the extra inning.
Both pitchers dominated until the bottom of the 6th inning, when Will Smith singed to center field, Max Muncy walked, and then JD Martinez hit a line drive double to left. However, the ball was hit hard and with Ian Happ's strong arm in left Muncy was not able to score from 1st base, so the Dodgers lead was held at 1-0 with just Smith scoring.
The Cubs responded immediately when Ian Happ singled in Kershaw's last inning, Dansby Swanson's 6-3a indicates he grounded out but the runner advanced. Patrick Wisdom then doubled him home.
Fielding then hurt both teams in the 8th inning.
Normally strong fielding Mookie Betts bobbled a grounder toe second base. That led to two unearned runs off a Dansby Swanson double and a 3-1 Cubs win.
In the bottom of the inning the weak fielding (CD1) centerfielder Christopher Morel made two miscues. First he bobbled a Betts double to let him go to third base. After a walk to Freddie Freeman, Smith drove a ball to centerfield that required a clutch defensive play, and any centerfielder with a CD2, 3, 4 or 5 would have caught the ball on the 45 (of 11-88) but Morel did not get to it to allow a single and another run to score. Technically that was an earned run but simply making the catch would have kept the Cubs up 3-2 but instead it was a 3-3 tie.
The big surprise was that the Cubs pen beat the Dodgers pen as the game extended to 11 innings, as the Dodgers had all PB2-8 pitchers and the Cubs did not.
Seiya Suzuki started the 11th on second base, and with one out Jeimer Candelario, who had struck out his first four plate appearances, singled in the winning run and Brandon Hughes surprised with six straight retired for the win.
Game 2 - With No Urias, Cubs Dominate to Leave LA Up 2-0
The loss of Julio Urias perhaps was part of the problem for the Dodgers both in the actual season that ended in the playoff upset against Arizona, and in Statis-Pro where the Cubs jumped all over Bobby Miller who moved up to the second spot.
Nico Hoener's A/AA speed was big as he stole based in the 1st, 3rd and 7th inning. He scored on a Ian Happ double in the first, then on a 2-run homer by Seiya Suzuki in the third inning to make it 3-0. Dansby Swanson added a 20run homer in the 6th and Ian Happ in the 8th for insurance in a 6-0 win. The Dodgers mighty offense hit and amazing 6 deep drives but all were caught, and they settled for only three singles against four Cubs pitchers. We do use Mark Leiter Jr.. as a starter, as he had some starts last season which led to projected ability to do so, and this game was closed by the temporary card of PB 2-8 Jose Cuas.
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Game 3 - Dodgers Blow 6-0 Lead, Cubs Advance
Max Muncy capped the third inning with a 3-run homer to give the Dodgers a 6-0 lead, and it appeared they would at least live to fight another day as No. 3 starter Lance Lynn gave them a solid 6-2 lead with two outs in the 7th.
However Brusday Graterol, once of four PB2-8s to be used in relief, gave up a 2-run double to Suzuki to make it 6-4 after seven. Joe Kelly was lights out earlier in the series, and came in to get the first two outs, but then allowed a single to Christopher Morel and walked Yan Gomes, before Nico Hoerner delivered a clutch batting 2-run double to tie the game 6-6 after 8 innings.
Alex Vasia came in to get Bellinger to ground out, but in the 9th with the score 6-6 he ran into trouble and eventually the bases were loaded with two outs and for the final of four PB 2-8 relievers Ryan Brasier to try to keep it tied and force extra innings. Little used Miles Mastrobuoni pinch hit for Gomes which would have meant rarely used Miguel Amaya would have had to catch the extra innings, but he never had to as Brasier released a "walk off wild pitch" and the Cubs won 7-6 to sweep.
The Cubs will await the winner of the Braves and Phillies.
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Here are the links to players listed on the scoresheet above.
Seiya Suzuki
Ian Happ
Dansby Swanson
Christopher Morel
Dodgers on Scoresheet
Max Muncy
Click for the free Statis-Pro Master Baseball Game. Click here for 60 of the all-time great MLB teams, or on teams of many of the all-time great players on teams by nation or state with one sheet for each team. Or click on the 2023 pitchers and 2023 batters in card form. You simply print two teams cards and then either print theaster link above and fast action cards in master link or buy the dice to start playing.
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