[ayaghmour2]

September 26th, 2022: It all comes down to this, just four games... But first:

The Indians clinced the AL Central. At 96-62, they have a 5 game lead and 7 game leads on fellow playoff teams Minnesota and Kansas City. We're also back up to 6th in the Power Rankings, a spot behind Atlanta who is right behind New York.

Again, it all coems down to this: I'm a little nervous, but we got this! At home, facing the Mets who we've had success with all season. A.J. Puckett (14-5, 3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) got the deGrominator (13-9, 4.61 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) in the first of four intense matchups. We started the first of four with a tough 9-4 loss.

Puck was rocked, 8 hits and 6 runs in just 2.2 innings with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. Tanner Roark had a strong mop up outing, 3.2 innings with 4 hits and 3 strikeouts, but most importantly no runs. Same couldn't be said of Koda Glover, who allowed 3 (1 earned) in 1.2 innings off 4 hits, 2 walks, and a strikeout.

Scott Kingery was 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored and a double. Ryan Mountcastle was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a steal. Dustin Fowler hit a solo homer.

September 27th, 2022: Note: I was too sacred to play every game out, so I simmed all four days and the recapped them after, so the format will be a little different.

Francisco Lindor hit for the cycle in a 7-2 win over the Twins.

We bounced back today with a 3-2 win. Walker Buehler went 7 innings, allowing just 5 hits, 2 runs, and 6 strikeouts. Shiotani got the win, pitching the 8th for some reaosn, and Arano earned the save in the 9th. I don't know what the swap was about, but hey, we won!

Lewis Brinson was 2-for-3 with a run scored, RBI, and triple. Ryan Mountcastle doubled twice in four trips with a run scored and RBI. Lewis Brinson was 2-for-3 with a walk, triple, RBI, and run scored.

September 28th, 2022: We lost 5-1, and now needed to win tomorrow. I definitely got screwed, and Nick Neidert made the start, allowing 3 in 3.2 innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. This is what I get... Steck allowed 1 in 1.1 and Warren allowed 1 in 3.

We had just 6 hits, and the only run came from an Adam Haseley solo homer off Sale in the 8th. Ryan Mountcastle was 2-for-4 with a double.

September 29th, 2022: Jace Vines tossed a 4-hit shutout as the Royals crushed Detroit 11-0. Chris Archer pitched a 7-0 shutout as the Cardinals cruised passed the Pirates.

In the must win game, we scored 3 in the 6th to take a 3-1 lead. Then both teams got 1 in the 7th. New York rallied for 2 more in the 9th, and I couldn't believe it was tied. Luckily, we walked off with a Victor Caratini walk off single.

Taillon pitched great, 7 innings with 6 hits 2 runs (1 earned), a walk, 3 strikeouts, and the no decision. Arano got a hold, But Shiotani allowed 2 (1 earned) in the 9th, despite striking out the side. A pair of Mountcastle error's killed us, almost...

Carlos Soler was 1-for-4 with a three run homer in the 6th. Scott Kingery was 3-for-4 with a double and run scored. Victor Caratini was 2-for-2 with a run scored, driven in, and 2 walks.

Atlanta won the East, the Mets are the #1 Wild Card, Colorado is the NL West leader, and we'll play the Dodgres in a play in game...

Colorado would have no Zach Britton and Seattle was eliminated from the playoffs, with the Astros winning the West.

October 1st, 2022: Literally, everything came down today. Everything we worked for, everything we've faught for, everything we've already blown. It would be a 1 game play in game just to play another 1 game play in for the wild card series.

Jordan Montgomery (10-10, 3.26 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) faced Song-sil Su (7-8, 4.96 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) with the season on the line. I'm scared, not going to lie, as on paper, their lineup is at least 50 times better then ours. But anything can happen in baesaball, even a 3-2 win for the hometeam, which happened to be us! We're back in the playoffs baby!

Montgomery went just 5, and allowed 2 runs (1 earned), with 4 hits and 5 strikeouts. These errors are killing us... Buehler pitched in relief, and tossed 2 innings with a hit and 4 strikeouts. The last 2 innings went to Shiotani, who allowed just a hit and struck out 4. It was unconventional, but we did it, we took down the defending champions and the team who's represented the NL every year since 2017.

Of cours, we only had 6 hits. Ryan Mountcastle was 3-for-4 with an RBI and 2 doubles. Keston Hiura was 2-for-2 with 2 runs scored, 2 walks, an RBI, and a double. They finished with 54 and 58 doubles respectively on the season.

Wow... Now wasn't that something. At 92-71, we're off to New York to take on the Mets as we look to earn our way into the NLDS.

We finished the year ranked 1st in every pitching category except BABIP (4th) and we were 1st in steals. No other offensive stat was above 10, and out defensive efficiency was 3rd, although it really felt like dead last the past couple games.

And including October, we were never under .500 for a month. August and September were 14-13, but they weren't under .500.

Walker Buehler finished 3rd in ERA (2.71) and Wins (16). Up comes the real playoffs! Time to win it all!