The Show postseason simulation: The Rays - yes, the Rays - win it all
There's no need to watch Major League Baseball's postseason because we have the results right here! Kidding aside, theScore's MLB editors simulated the playoffs on MLB The Show 19 with live rosters, and the results were ... surprising. Here's how it all went down.
AL wild-card game
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rays | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| Athletics | 4 | 8 | 2 |
The Tampa Bay Rays upset the Oakland Athletics at home on the strength of seven strong innings from Charlie Morton to advance to the ALDS against the Houston Astros.
NL wild-card game
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewers | 8 | 10 | 0 |
| Nationals | 5 | 10 | 2 |
The Milwaukee Brewers keep their dream season going by upsetting Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals on the road. They set up a rematch of the 2018 NLCS with the Los Angeles Dodgers, only this time it's in the NLDS. Washington ends a turnaround season by once again failing to advance to the championship series.
ALDS: Yankees vs. Twins
| Game | Away | Home | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twins | Yankees | 5-3 NYY |
| 2 | Twins | Yankees | 7-3 MIN |
| 3 | Yankees | Twins | 10-5 MIN |
| 4 | Yankees | Twins | 10-0 NYY |
| 5 | Twins | Yankees | 10-7 NYY |
As predicted, the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins engage in an absolute slugfest. Despite dropping two of the first three games, the Yankees eventually win the series in five. The two teams combine to hit 20 homers.
ALDS: Astros vs. Rays
| Game | Away | Home | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rays | Astros | 4-3 TB |
| 2 | Rays | Astros | 5-3 HOU |
| 3 | Astros | Rays | 7-2 TB |
| 4 | Astros | Rays | 5-4 HOU |
| 5 | Rays | Astros | 5-4 TB |
The Rays pull off arguably the biggest upset in franchise history by knocking off the top-seeded Houston Astros in five games to advance to their first ALCS since 2008. It's a disappointing result for Houston, which fails to advance out of the division series for the first time in three years and now potentially faces losing Gerrit Cole in free agency.
NLDS: Braves vs. Cardinals
| Game | Away | Home | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardinals | Braves | 4-2 STL |
| 2 | Cardinals | Braves | 10-2 ATL |
| 3 | Braves | Cardinals | 11-7 ATL |
| 4 | Braves | Cardinals | 5-4 STL |
| 5 | Cardinals | Braves | 8-1 STL |
The Atlanta Braves cough up a pair of opportunities to eliminate the St. Louis Cardinals and end up losing the series in five games for a second straight NLDS exit. Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty proves to be the difference, tossing seven shutout innings during the series.
NLDS: Dodgers vs. Brewers
| Game | Away | Home | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brewers | Dodgers | 7-1 LAD |
| 2 | Brewers | Dodgers | 5-3 MIL |
| 3 | Dodgers | Brewers | 1-0 MIL |
| 4 | Dodgers | Brewers | 9-8 MIL |
After getting hammered by the Dodgers in Game 1, the Brewers rally to win the next three games and shock baseball by eliminating the NL favorites in four games. It's the first time Los Angeles will not represent the Senior Circuit in the World Series since 2016.
ALCS: Rays vs. Yankees
| Game | Away | Home | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rays | Yankees | 10-8 TB |
| 2 | Rays | Yankees | 6-4 NYY |
| 3 | Yankees | Rays | 5-3 TB |
| 4 | Yankees | Rays | 7-1 NYY |
| 5 | Yankees | Rays | 6-2 TB |
| 6 | Rays | Yankees | 4-3 TB |
The Rays reach the World Series for the second time in franchise history, while the Yankees' quest for a 28th title has to wait another year. The team with one of baseball's lowest payrolls defies the odds thanks to a strong pitching staff that keeps the Bronx Bombers in the ballpark.
NLCS: Brewers vs. Cardinals
| Game | Away | Home | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brewers | Cardinals | 7-0 STL |
| 2 | Brewers | Cardinals | 6-4 STL |
| 3 | Cardinals | Brewers | 4-1 STL |
| 4 | Cardinals | Brewers | 7-2 STL |
The Brewers had to lose eventually, right? Left for dead after star Christian Yelich suffered a season-ending injury, Milwaukee admirably makes it back to the NLCS before being swept by the division-rival Cardinals. It marks the first trip to the World Series for St. Louis since losing to the Boston Red Sox in 2013.
World Series: Rays over Cardinals
| Game | Away | Home | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rays | Cardinals | 6-5 STL |
| 2 | Rays | Cardinals | 8-1 STL |
| 3 | Cardinals | Rays | 3-1 TB |
| 4 | Cardinals | Rays | 5-2 TB |
| 5 | Cardinals | Rays | 5-4 TB |
| 6 | Rays | Cardinals | 6-4 TB |
They're dancing in the streets in St. Pete, and maybe even Montreal! After dropping the first two games, the Rays rattle off four straight wins to stun the Cardinals and win their first World Series in franchise history. That's right, the wild-card Rays, who opened the season with a payroll of $68 million - or less than Boston's rotation - are champions. Charlie Morton takes home World Series MVP honors.