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2031 Playoffs
World Series
Indianapolis, making their third consecutive World Series appearance, held the home field advantage by virtue of winning their division despite their opponents Las Vegas having the better regular season record. With so little to choose between the two sides Indianapolis, with the home advantage and recent big game experience, were installed as very slight favourites. In the very first meeting between the two teams, game one featured an epic comeback, Indianapolis entered the ninth down 5-0 but a Jose Cintron 2-run blast sparked a five run inning taking the game to extras, where in the twelfth an Anthony Williams RBI-single gave Indianapolis a stunning 6-5 come from behind walk-off win. Another late game meltdown by the Las Vegas bullpen cost Holden Willis the win in game two, with Willis almost unhittable through seven innings the Gamblers built a 4-1 lead only for, first Leland Watson and then Mike Cooper to squander the lead and hand Indianapolis a 5-4 victory putting the Racers 2-0 ahead in the series. Back in the desert for games 3, 4 and 5 Las Vegas needed a result after late pitching collapses cost them the opening two games, the Gamblers got their wish, as starter Marc Birstall kept the Racers in check while the Las Vegas offense dominated from start to finish and even another bullpen mishap (3 runs conceded in the ninth) couldn’t deny the Gamblers a comfortable 8-4 victory. The following night, a strong start from former Racer Jerry Wood and homeruns from Roberto Paz and Claude Cummings (his 16th career postseason homer) put Las Vegas ahead 5-2 and this time the bullpen closed the deal without trouble, tying the series at two games apiece. Indianapolis broke the trend for the series by winning on the road in game five, behind Jason Bin Talib’s eleven strikeouts and another Jose Cintron homer the Racers cruised to a 6-2 win putting them on the verge of back-to-Back World Series triumphs. Las Vegas chose game six to play their best game of the playoffs, starter Holden Willis pitched eight innings of 1-run ball and Davis Robinson struck out the side in the ninth to send the series on to a game seven (the first World Series game seven since Atlanta v Denver in 2023). As in 2023 it was the home team who prevailed, with Indianapolis starter Brad Wright the beneficiary of several Las Vegas defensive miscues and three homeruns, including Jose Cintron’s third in as many games (and fourth of the series) as the Racers demolished the Gamblers 9-3 to claim their second consecutive World title (joining LA as only teams to achieve the feat). Indianapolis LF Jose Cintron slugged 4 homeruns, batted .421 and had an OPS of 1.461 to take home series MVP while the normally reliable Las Vegas bullpen struggled, collectively pitching 14.1 innings and surrendering 17 runs (an ERA of 10.68, a far cry from their regular season ERA of 2.41).
2031 Playoff Recap
Divisional Series
EL: Indianapolis 3-1 Philadelphia, Miami 3-0 Detroit
WL: Las Vegas 3-1 Denver, San Diego 3-1 Dallas
Championship Series
EL: Indianapolis 4-2 Miami
WL: Las Vegas 4-1 San Diego
World Series
Indianapolis 4-3 Las Vegas
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