Simulated World Series: Indians' power surge forces Game 7
How will this year's World Series play out? Using the Dynasty League Baseball online simulation, Paste BN Sports' Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will pre-play each game to provide some insight into the key matchups and strategy fans can expect to see in the Fall Classic.
Game 6: Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Indians
CLEVELAND -- A trio of unlikely power hitters all homered off Jake Arrieta as the Cleveland Indians jumped on the Chicago Cubs ace and rolled to a 6-2 victory in Game 6 of Paste BN Sports' annual Simulated World Series.
Trailing 1-0, Francisco Lindor got the Indians on the board in the fourth inning with a 420-foot solo shot to right-center -- and Tyler Naquin followed three batters later with a two-run blast to put Cleveland on top.
BOX SCORE: Indians 6, Cubs 2
The Indians extended their lead in the sixth when Coco Crisp drilled one down the right-field line for another two-run homer to knock Arrieta out of the game.
Josh Tomlin was solid on the mound for Cleveland, pitching 4 2/3 innings before turning things over to the bullpen. Dan Otero and Andrew Miller each got four outs and by then the lead was comfortable enough that closer Cody Allen didn't have to come into the game.
GAME SUMMARY: Inning-by-inning recap
After the Cubs won the first three games of the Simulated Series, the Indians have come all the way back to tie things up -- and set up a winner-take-all Game 7. Corey Kluber will be starting once again on short rest for Cleveland, while the Cubs counter with Kyle Hendricks.
One final note, the Cubs will be without second baseman Javier Baez in Game 7. He was injured in the fourth inning trying to turn a double play as Mike Napoli slid hard into the second base bag -- and he will be unavailable for the series finale.
What to watch in (the actual) Game 6
-- The two teams will be able to employ the services of their designated hitters as the series returns to the American League park. That will allow Carlos Santana to play first base (instead of left field, as he did in two of the three games in Chicago) and Napoli to be the DH. However, it also gives the Cubs the opportunity to get Kyle Schwarber's bat in their lineup. Schwarber has gone hitless in the Sim Series, but did make an impact in both of the actual games in Cleveland.
-- Pitching Tomlin on short rest didn't hurt the Indians at all, thanks to their deep bullpen. Tomlin went through the Cubs lineup exactly twice in Sim Series Game 6 before Dan Otero took over in the fifth. Look for Terry Francona to do the same thing and avoid letting Tomlin see the Cubs hitters for a third time. The travel day in between Games 5 and 6 will make sure all his relievers are sufficiently rested.
-- The stolen base has been a huge weapon for Cleveland in the Sim Series. The Indians have been successful in 12 of their 13 attempts over the first six games. While Arrieta doesn't have any problem throwing to first base, he's had trouble keeping runners from stealing off him.
Previous results
Game 1: Cubs 5, Indians 1 (14 inn.)
Game 2: Cubs 12, Indians 3
Game 3: Cubs 5, Indians 4
Game 4: Indians 4, Cubs 0
Game 5: Indians 8, Cubs 3
Dynasty League Baseball, from the designer of Pursue the Pennant, is available in both the original Board version and the online version featuring "Series," Greatest Team bracket tournaments and continuous ownership draft leagues.
Pre-play your own 2016 World Series by signing up at Dynasty League Baseball.com and selecting "Series."
Special thanks to Baseball Info Solutions for their statistical analysis.