Sunday, August 23, 2026

Phillies Walkoff 4-3 Over DBacks to Lead Pool J Semi; Rays and Phillies lead Other 2 Semi Pools

If the Championship Pool started today, it would be between the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies. All three started 2-0, so they will play their second game against each pool opponent. Any team that goes 4-0 will win the pool without the other two teams playing each other. However, if they lose one or two games to finish 3-1 or 2-2, then the other two teams will need to play each other once or twice until the pool is settled.

Semifinal pool play has been thrilling, with five of six games decided by one or two runs, including the most recent game, which was Philadelphia's 4-3 walk-off single over Arizona. We will detail that game below the standings. You can play your own free Statis-Pro games by clicking here.

Below the standings, we show the leading offenses and defenses for the entire tournament, since all nine of these teams have already won their first three-team, four-game pool. The Dodgers have the best offense through six games, as their average win has been 7.0 to 2.2. The best defense so far has been Philadelphia's, which has won its average game 4.8 to 1.8.

You can track all results of the semifinal pools and pitching match-ups by scrolling to the bottom of this blog or clicking on this link.

 
Semifinal Pool J                    Semifinal Pool K                       Semifinal Pool L
LA Dodgers 2-0, +5Tampa 2-0, +3Philadelphia 2-0, +3
Boston 0-1, -1Chicago Cubs 0-1, -1Arizona 0-1, -1
NY Mets 0-1, -4Milwaukee 0-1, -2Seattle 0-1, -2
   
Best offense all games Best defense all games
LA Dodgers 7.0 runs/gmChampionship PoolPhiladelphia 1.8 Runs/gm
Tampa 5.7Will be champ ofLA Dodgers 2.2
NY Mets 5.3Pools J, K and LBoston 2.2
Seattle 4.94-game recordArizona 4.0
Philadelphia 4.8tie-breaker run differenceChicago Cubs 2.6
Arizona 4.0between teams that are tiedSeattle 2.9
Chicago Cubs 3.62nd tie-breaker run Milwaukee 3.2
Milwaukee 3.4difference all 4 gamesTampa 3.3
Boston 3.0 NY Mets 3.8

Philadelphia 4, Arizona 3

After Arizona almost got out of the bottom of the ninth inning with a catcher-to-third-base-to-first-base double play, Justin Crawford was still on second base with two outs. The repeated batting-average champion Luis Arraez, the only player with a Statis-Pro card that gets hits even in the 40s, stepped to the plate. He had already hit a home run earlier on a 41, which is not a hit for any other player in the game.

Arraez singled up the middle to improve to 4-for-9 in the semifinal series through two games. The recently updated charts for taking extra bases reflected the modern reality that players go home from second on most singles. The T3 throwing arm of Arizona center fielder Ryan Waldschmidt (mediocre), against the OBR (on-base running) A—the fastest—meant that Crawford would be safe on an 11-78, stop at third base on an 81-84, and be thrown out on an 85-88.

Do note that while most ranges increase by 10 with two outs, the chart notes that an 11-78 does not increase with two outs. So there was still a chance for Arizona to throw him out and earn extra innings, but Crawford was safe easily on a 23.

The Phillies never trailed. In the third inning, Trea Turner singled and stole second base, Brandon Marsh doubled him home, and Kyle Schwarber singled Marsh home to make it 2-0 Phillies.

Zack Wheeler made that hold up with a strong seven innings, allowing only four hits, one walk and one run—a solo shot by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. that made it 2-1.

Arraez matched that with his solo shot in the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-1.

However, Arizona jumped on José Alvarado in the top of the eighth after Wheeler left. Ryan Waldschmidt walked, Geraldo Perdomo doubled, and Gabriel Moreno walked to load the bases. Then Lars Nootbaar doubled in two runs to make it 3-3.

However, Moreno tried to score from first on the double, and left fielder Johan Rojas, who was a pinch-runner for Bryce Harper, threw him out at home to keep the game tied at 3-3 and set up Arraez's game-winning hit.

Both of Philadelphia's wins were at home, so the Phillies will now need to travel to Arizona and Seattle to try to wrap up the pool.




Here are all the semifinal results and scheduled pitching matchups
Pool J SemifinalPB-VenueOppRunsAllowedResult
LA Dodgers Rotation      
Tarik Skubal2'-9HNYM51W
Shohei Ohtani2'-9ABos21W
Yoshinobu Yamamoto2'-8HBos   
Tyler Glasnow2'-8ANYM   
Team Total Wins & Runs   722'-0
       
Boston RotationPBVenueOppRunsAllowedResult
Sonny Gray2'-8 NYM   
Garrett Crochet2'-8HLAD12L
Ranger Suarez2'-7ALAD   
Payton Tolle4'-7 NYM   
Team Total Wins & Runs   120'-1
       
NY Mets RotationPBVenueOppRunsAllowedResult
Jonah Tong2'-8ALAD15L
Nolan McLean2'-7 Bos   
Christian Scott2'-7 Bos   
Sean Manaea4'-7HLAD   
Team Total Wins & Runs   150'-1
       
       
Pool K SemifinalPBVenueOppRunsAllowedResult
Tampa Rotation      
Shane McClanahan2'-8AMil53W
Drew Rasmussen2'-8AChC21W
Freddy Peralta2'-7HChC   
Ryan Pepiot4'-7HMil   
Team Total Wins & Runs   742'-0
       
Chicago Cubs RotationPBVenueOppRunsAllowedResult
Justin Steele2'-7HTB12L
Edward Cabrera2'-7 Mil   
Kevin Gausman2'-7 Mil   
Jordan Wicks2'-7ATB   
Team Total Wins & Runs   120'-1
       
Milwaukee RotationPBVenueOppRunsAllowedResult
Jacob Misiorowski2'-9HTB35L
Brandon Woodruff2'-7 ChC   
DL Hall4'-7 ChC   
Shane Drohan4'-7ATB   
Team Total Wins & Runs   350'-1
       
       
Pool L SemifinalPBVenueOppRunsAllowedResult
Philadelphia Rotation      
Cristopher Sánchez2'-9HSea31W
Zack Wheeler2'-8HAri43W
Jesús Luzardo2'-7AAri   
Aaron Nola4'-7ASea   
Team Total Wins & Runs   742'-0
       
Arizona RotationPBVenueOppRunsAllowedResult
Corbin Burnes4'-7APhi34L
Zac Gallen4'-7 Sea   
Merrill Kelly4'-7 Sea   
Brandon Pfaadt4'-7HPhi   
Team Total Wins & Runs   340'-1
       
Seattle RotationPBVenueOppRunsAllowedResult
Logan Gilbert2'-8APhi13L
George Kirby2'-8 Ari   
Bryan Woo2'-8 Ari   
Bryce Miller2'-6HPhi   
Team Total Wins & Runs   130'-1

Weird Strike Out and Line-up, but Phillies beat Seattle 3+1.

Our 3rd and final semifinal pool started with the Phillies beating Seattle 3-1. I will wait until the 2nd game, with Arizona coming to Philadelphia, to turn this into a full update.


However, two interesting plays showed up on the scoresheet. Seattle's Rob Refsnyder was thrown out on a Z-play for arguing balls and strikes, and I brought in Brendan Donovan, who struck out. However, this is the only Statis-Pro scenario, outside of a batter fouling a ball off on a Clutch Batting play, in which I would know a player already had a strike. Since I know Refsnyder had at least one strike when he was ejected, under baseball rules he gets charged with the strikeout. If you have at least one strike when you leave an at-bat for whatever reason, and the guy who takes your place strikes out, the strikeout is charged to you.


The second oddity on this scoresheet is, embarrassingly, that I skipped J.T. Realmuto the first three times through the lineup, meaning I was batting with an eight-man Phillies lineup. The only fair cleanup, which a purist might not like, was to have Realmuto bat three straight times to open the bottom of the 7th, then resume with Arraez in the order.


Outside of Christopher Sánchez's phenomenal eight-inning performance, the Phillies' batting story was the first two innings. Luis Arraez — the only player whose hits go all the way into the 40s, with a 41-42 HR and 43-45 deep drive that might go out — singled and scored in both the 1st and 2nd. In between, Trea Turner homered, and the 3-0 second-inning lead held up for a 3-1 win.




Saturday, August 22, 2026

Tampa Sweeps in Midwest, Edges Brewers and Cubs Semi Pool

In the toughest semifinal pool — featuring three of the top five teams in the current MLB power rankings — the Rays opened with a 5-3 win over the Brewers before completing their Midwest sweep with a dramatic 10th-inning win over the Cubs.

Neither Tampa Bay ace Shane McClanahan nor Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski could hold down the opposing lineup. McClanahan lasted only four innings and allowed three Brewers runs, while Misiorowski — a PB 2-9 who isn't nearly as dominant in the game as he has been in real MLB play, with more walks and fewer strikeouts — gave up four runs in five innings.

Both teams then burned through their top four relievers, who were lockdown the rest of the way but will now be unavailable for the rematch in Tampa. The Rays escaped with a 5-3 win in the first of their four pool games.

Then came the Cubs — and an unlikely defensive breakdown by their normally outstanding infield.

In the 10th, Chandler Simpson entered as a pinch-runner and stole third. A CD (Clutch Defense) card was followed by SS, meaning Gold Glove-level shortstop Dansby Swanson had to stop a smash with the winning run at third.

Because Swanson has the game's best CD rating (CD5), he would have caught the line drive and doubled Simpson off third base on a roll of 11-48, or grabbed it on a hop and nailed Schmidt at home on 51-78. Instead, the roll was 83 — one of the rare outcomes in which the ball gets through Swanson for a single, allowing the winning run to score.

The Rays leave the Midwest with a sweep and now get chances to beat both the Brewers and Cubs again in Tampa to advance to the final three-team pool.












Dodgers Strikeout Record 24 Red Sox, Win 2-1

In almost 50 years of Statis-Pro baseball we have never seen this, and will never see it again. 

Shohei Ohtani allowed two singles to start the game, with Jarren Duran hitting a single and stealing 2nd base, then scoring on a single by Wilyer Abreu to put the Dodgers behind for the second time in a row to start the semifinal baseball. then Dodgers pitches struck out 24 of the last 31 batters of the game in a 2-1 win. In actual MLB play the Dodgers did strike out 26 Brewers in 2017, but it took 12 innings. The odds of this every happening again are nonexistent, but it also points out the incredible pitching the Dodgers have assembled.

In the first pool the Dodgers won their four games by an average 8.8 to 2.8 to dominate, but competition has been tougher in this semifinal pool.

The Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet kept that 1-0 lead into the fifth inning when the botton of the Dodgers line-up put together two singles with a popout in between. Pitcher Shohei Ohtani then singled home Mookie Betts to tiethe game 1-1. Then on the play of the game, Kyle Tucker hit a deep drive to left field, and while Tommy Edman's OBR B was just too slow to tag up and race home like an OBR A would have done, the old 1978 Statis-Pro board's Advancing on Fly ball option chart of the T3 (average throwing arm of Jarren Duran showed 11-36 safe range if Edman tried to tag and score,but because it was a deep drive you add 20 and his chances to give him just better of a 11-56 score whereas he would have been thrown out on a 57-88.

He beat the tag barely on a 53 random number to make it 2-1 Dodgers and noone would score again. If you want to make decisions like this, click on the free Statis-Pro baseball game to pull up the teams and play yourself. The old board with the option to adcance is in the photo below.

The most amazing part of this unbelievable appearnce was Blake Snell coming in with a man on first base in the 6th inning and throwing three perfect innings by striking out 8 of 9 batters faced.

LAD                      IP   H  R  ER K    PB-  Th Strikeout!  Max IP  ERA
Shohei Ohtani54111132'-9R22 to 5573.46
Blake Snell3000082'-8L21 to 5673.54
Edwin Díaz1100032'-8R21 to 5823.03
 9511124     
            
BOSIPHRERWKPB-ThStrikeout!Max IPERA
Garrett Crochet5.1622052'-8L22 to 5583.02
Justin Slaten0.2100022'-7R25 to 4523.97
Erik Miller1000102'-7L22 to 5323.45
Garrett Whitlock1100122'-8R23 to 5123.47
Patrick Sandoval1100022'-7L25 to 4533.79
 9922211    


The Dodgers have the edge in the semifinal pool but it was nothing like the first pool where they were scoring over 8 runs a game to dominate. If the Mets or Red Sox can end up with a better run differential and tie the 4-game record by the end of the semifinal pool play, the could still keep the Dodgers out of the final championship 3-team pool.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0, +5 run differential
2. Boston Red Sox 0-1, -1 run differential
3. New York Mets 0-1, -4 run differential
 
Pos LAD                         AB RBI Extra  Bats HR         SP  OPS   Def
DHShohei Ohtani5021 LP23 to 32A0.958CD1
RFKyle Tucker4001gw-SFLP25 to 28A0.827CD3
3bMax Muncy3000 RP18 to 26D0.861CD4
1bFreddie Freeman4000 LP28 to 33C0.832CD3
CFAndy Pages4000 RP27 to 34C0.839CD5
CWill Smith40302bRP25 to 28D0.79CD5
SSMookie Betts4120 RP28 to 32C0.783CD4
LFTeoscar Hernández3000 RP26 to 32C0.771CD1
2bTommy Edman4120sbSN27 to 31B0.706CD4
  35292      
            
PosBOSABRHRBIExtraBatsHRSPOPSDef
LFJarren Duran4110sbLN31 to 32A0.763CD3
DHWilyer Abreu4021 LP25 to 28C0.789CD4
1BWillson Contreras40004kSP25 to 28D0.785CD2
CAdley Rutschman40202 2bSN26 to 28D0.764CD5
PRIsiah Kiner-Falefa0000 RN33 to 33C0.651CD2
RFRoman Anthony3000 RN27 to 28C0.764CD4
2bRomy Gonzalez4000 RN32 to 34B0.755CD4
3bCaleb Durbin3000 RN31 to 32A0.747CD4
CFCeddanne Rafaela3000 RN31 to 33A0.724CD5
SSTrevor Story3000 RN26 to 31A0.712CD2
  32151     
On the codes by the players, RN means righthanded normal batter, SP means switchhing power etc. The Home Run range is the numbers on the 11-88 base 8 random number scale that appears on the dice or fast action cards. The A (very fast base stealer) through E (slow never steals) and finally a CD5 player is potential gold glove level fielder down to CD1 is very poor fielder.




Here is the scoresheet of the incredible 24-strikeout game.


ddd

Friday, August 21, 2026

Dodgers Open Semis with Skubal-Smith All-Time Battery Shutdown

 After cruising through lopsided wins in their first pool, the LA Dodgers kicked off semifinal pool play by falling behind for the first time this season when Juan Soto homered off Tarik Skubal to make it 1-0 in the first.

The Dodgers responded with the most incredible battery play of the season from that point on, as Tarik Skubal  struck out 14 while allowing only two more hits and no walks and catcher Will Smith twice in a row threw out pinch runners to prevent any other Met from getting in scoring position.

Opener Jonah Tong went four no hit innings to keep the Mets close, but once he was gone the Dodgers teed off for four runs in the final four innings for a 5-1 win in the first of four games in pod play. The Dodgers will play at Boston in the next game as only one of three teams will advance.

While all rosters of player cards in the free Statis-pro game are final, the one change you will see if you pull up the cards is that we now have listed whether every player is left handed and right handed so platoon effects are in place.

    
NYM                          IP   H  R  ER K   PB-   Th       Strikeout!   Max IP
Jonah Tong4011452'-8Right21 to 484
Kodai Senga (L)3422034'-7Right23 to 465
Jonathan Pintaro1122114'-7Left25 to 442
           
LADIPHRERWKPB-ThStrikeout!Max IP
Tarik Skubal (W)83110142'-9Left22 to 558
Evan Phillips1100002'-8Right26 to 421

Pos          NY Mets                       AB  R  H  RBI    Bats  SP OPS    Def
SSFrancisco Lindor4000 SPA0.788CD5
RFJuan Soto3111HRLPA0.946CD1
3bBo Bichette3010 RND0.786CD3
DHFrancisco Alvarez3000 SPD0.778CD3
PR-DH Luis Robert Jr0000csRPA0.697CD4
1bMark Vientos3010 RPD0.766CD2
PR A J Ewing0000csSNA0.725CD1
1b Eric Wagaman0000 RND0.706CD5
2bJorge Polanco3000 SPD0.764CD1
CFChristopher Morel3000 RPB0.728CD4
LFCarson Benge3010 RNC0.685CD4
CLuis Torrens3000 RND0.683CD5
           
           
PosLA DodgersABRHRBI
BatsSPOPSDef
DHShohei Ohtani3100sbLPA0.958CD1
RFKyle Tucker4000 LPA0.827CD3
3bMax Muncy3112hrRPD0.861CD4
1bFreddie Freeman4111hrLPC0.832CD3
CFAndy Pages3100 RPC0.839CD5
CWill Smith2010 RPD0.79CD5
PR Hyeseong Kim0000 LNA0.669CD3
C Hunter Feduccia0000 RND0.635CD4
SSMookie Betts2010H&RRPC0.783CD4
LFTeoscar Hernández30002DPRPC0.771CD1
2bTommy Edman3010 SNB0.706CD4

Next the Dodgers play the Red Sox.



... and then there were 9 teams left - teams in green Pods alive for Statis-Pro title

Our crazy idea of 3-team pods each playing a home-and-home with the other two pod (or pool) teams to advance to the semifinals worked really well. The only tweak was that we let the Chicago White Sox in as a 28th team in a wild card pod in which the Seattle Mariners edged the Atlanta Braves for the final spot.

We now will do the same thing with the 9 remaining teams - and it could require up to 18 games for three semifinal champs to advance to the Championship Pod. Semifinal start this weekend!


The best teams to fail to advance were the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves, though the projected cards after the Braves 76-86 season the previous year do not reflect nearly as good cards.

The worst teams to advance were Seattle and the New York Mets who are not in the top 20 this year but were top 10 in power rankings last year. Factors such as Cal Raleigh hitting 60 homers to up his projected card, then coming back with only 13 homers and a .156 batting average this year and the Mets having a bunch of great cards allowed to play in our Statis-Pro league but actually on the bench.

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Seattle Beats ChiSox 10-0 to Claim Final of 9 Playoff Spots

The result of our Final 2 wild card games will be posted here when done. You can print out your own players and play the Statis-Pro game for free by clicking here, by just buying a few dice at your local store, but we suggest after you try it with dice you consider purchasing a game with fast action cards to replace the dice rolls from someone such as Statis-Pro Advanced.

Seattle 10, Chicago White Sox 0 - JP Crawford made a diving grab and double play with bases loaded in the top of the 2nd inning to save multiple runs - and from then on it was all Seattle in a 10-0 win. Naylor hit a 2-run homer to make it 3-0 after Crawford's solo homer in his incredible 2nd inning. Crawford's 2-run double in the 4th, Raleigh's homer, andfinally Arozerena's 3-run homer capped the win. Those 10 runs gave them a final 3-1 record with a +12 run differential, and since they beat the Braves by more than the Braves beat them they have our next tie-breaker - meaning the Braves now must win by 6 runs against the White Sox to advance - five runs or less and the Mariners advance.

Braves 5, White Sox 1. The Atlanta Braves fell behind 2-1 after Vargas and Grichuk homered in the first two innings (see scoresheet at bottom) and even they rallied to win 5-4 that left them short on run differntial after they tied with Seattle at 3-1. The Mariners are the last team into the 9 team semifinals. Because they came through the Wildcard Pool, the Mariners played eight games. The results of all pool games are here.

Semifinal Pool J

LA Dodgers 4-0, ave score 8.8-2.8

Boston 2-2, ave score 3.5-2.3

NY Mets 3-0, ave score 6.7-3.3

 

Semifinal Pool K

Tampa 3-1, ave score 6.8-4.0

Milwaukee 3-1, ave score 3.5-2.8

Chicago Cubs 2-2, ave score 4.3-2.8

 

Semifinal Pool L

Arizona 3-0, ave score 4.3-1.7

Philadelphia 4-0, ave score 5.5-1.8

Seattle 6-2, ave score 5.4-2.9

 

3 winners advance to Title Pool

6 of the top 8 power ranked teams are in the finals with No. 6 yankees and no. 3 braves missing out, so the number 22 mariners beating out the braves is much different than actual play. However, the projected cArds were made after cal raleigh hit 60 homes and the mariners won 90 games and the braves were 76-86 and ranked no. 21.


Prior to the games we are posting the actual printout of each team's cards, followed by notes below each on which pitchers can pitch in which game.

VISITOR - Chicago White Sox (below) on the road with Anthony Kay (PB 2-6) starting and top available relievers (who did not pitch vs Seattle in 5-3 loss) Hicks (PB 4-7 as top 3 relievers resting), Chris Murphy (PB 2-6), Jordan Leasure (PB 2-6) and Tyler Davis (PB2-6) available and the rest are very weak PB 2-4.

HOME - Seattle George Kirby (PB 2-8) start at home with top available relievers Andres' Munoz (closer, PB 2-8), Seranthony Dominguez (PB2-8), Gabe Speier (PB 2-8) Eduard Pazardo (PB 2-7) and plenty of PB 4-7 available.

In the game in Chicago, Victor Robles pinch ran and scored in the top of the 9th to force extra innings,and Julio Rodriguez 2-run homer capped a 4-run 12th inning that was just enough to offet a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 12th by Munetaka Murakami in the bottom of the 12th as the Mariners survived 5-3. Bryan Woo threw 7 innings of 1-hit, 0-walk ball, but the one hit was a homer by Brenton Doyle.

 


Visitor - Chicago White Sox starter Shane Smith (PB 2-5) but the top five relievers listed above are all avaiable since they were blown out 9-2 hosting Atlanta, so do have a fresh pen.

Home - Atlanta Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez (PB 2-7) and their top 9 relievers are available after resting in the 9-2 win - so Raisel Iglesias (PB 2-9 all star), and a pari of PB 2-8 pitchers Robert Suarez and Dylan Lee give them a huge edge in the game.


Playoff scenarios:

If either Seattle or Atlanta win and the other one loses then then winner advances to be one of the final 9 teams in the semifinal pods.

If both win or both lose, then then Seattle must win by at least 5 runs more than Atlanta wins by to advane, so if Atlanta loses by 4 or fewer runs than Seattle they would still advance.

Chicago is at -9 runs scored so would have to win by large margins to catch Seattle (+2) and Atlanta (+7).  The White Sox would need to beat Seattle by at least 2 runs and Atlanta by at least 7 runs to advance - if they fall short of that total against either they are eliminted.




PosATL
RFRonald Acuña Jr
2bOzzie Albies
DHDrake Baldwin
1bMatt Olson
3bAustin Riley
CFMichael Harris II
LFLane Thomas
SSHa-Seong Kim
CSean Murphy
  
PosCHW
CFBrenton Doyle
2bChase Meidroth
3bMiguel Vargas
1bMunetaka Murakami
RFRandal Grichuk
DHAndrew Benintendi
CJoey Bart
SSColson Montgomery
LFBrooks Baldwin
  
PosSEA
CFJulio Rodríguez
LFRandy Arozarena
1bJosh Naylor
CCal Raleigh
RFTaylor Ward
DHRob Refsnyder
3BWeston Wilson
SSJP Crawford
2bCole Young