This year’s World Series promises excitement. In an effort to preview key matchups and strategies, YSL News Sports’ Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will simulate each game using the Dynasty League Baseball online platform.

After three games filled with home runs and high scores, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers reverted to classic baseball strategies in Game 4 of YSL News Sports’ annual Simulated World Series.

The game turned into a thrilling showdown that hinged on bullpen performance. Yankees closer Luke Weaver managed to secure the final seven outs, leading the Yankees to a 4-3 win and leveling the Sim Series at two games each.

World Series Game 4 simulation recap

In anticipation of this series, the Dodgers opted for rookie Landon Knack (who had a 3.65 ERA across 69 innings in the regular season) to serve as their opener in Game 4, leading to a scoreless first three innings alongside Yankees starter Luis Gil. The Dodgers broke the tie in the fourth inning when Gavin Lux hit an RBI single.

The Yankees took command in the fifth inning, with Alex Verdugo and Gleyber Torres delivering consecutive doubles, followed by Aaron Judge’s single that brought Torres home for the go-ahead run, marking Judge’s eighth RBI of the series. In the sixth inning, Torres struck again with another double, allowing Verdugo to score, putting the Yankees at 3-1.

After the Yankees’ former starter turned reliever, Nestor Cortes, allowed an RBI double to Mookie Betts in the seventh, narrowing the score to 3-2, New York brought in closer Luke Weaver to tackle a tough situation with the bases loaded and two outs.

Weaver faced a deep fly ball that just stayed foul, then struck out Will Smith to escape the inning. In the eighth, he deftly handled another jam with two runners on base, following Jazz Chisholm’s RBI double that added some extra insurance runs.

Weaver, having only recorded a three-out save in Game 2, returned for the ninth. He quickly found himself in a precarious position—loading the bases with a walk and two singles, allowing an RBI groundout that brought the score to 4-3. But with the tying run on third base, he managed to have Miguel Rojas ground out to finish the game.

What to expect in the (real) Game 4

The Judge impact: In real life, Aaron Judge has had a challenging time, but he excelled in Sim Series Game 4, going 2-for-4 with a crucial RBI single in the fifth inning that put the Yankees ahead. During the series, Judge boasts a .500 batting average (8-for-16) with two home runs and eight RBIs. If Judge had performed at his regular-season level, the Yankees might not be facing elimination as they are in the real-world Game 4. The clock is ticking for both the Yankees and their star player.

Critical at-bats: Both teams struggled significantly with runners in scoring positions; the Dodgers went just 2-for-17, while the Yankees were 3-for-16. Consequently, the Dodgers left 14 runners stranded while the Yankees left 10. This may partly stem from the frequent pitching changes, as the Dodgers deployed six pitchers while the Yankees utilized four. Expect ongoing pitching substitutions from both managers tonight.

Weaver’s durability: Though Luke Weaver only became the Yankees’ closer in September, he has demonstrated consistent performance throughout the season. With 62 appearances and 84 innings pitched, managing to secure six or seven outs is within his capability. Within the Dynasty League Baseball framework, Weaver is considered a long reliever, meaning he can face as many as 15 batters before fatigue sets in. In Game 4 of the Sim Series, he faced 12 batters.

Overview of previous 2024 Sim Series games

Game 1: Dodgers 13, Yankees 9

Game 2: Yankees 7, Dodgers 4

Game 3: Yankees 9, Dodgers 5