Chicago Cubs: MLB 15 The Show season simulation

Gamesided used MLB 15 The Show on PS4 to simulate the MLB season

Our friends over at Gamesided used MLB 15 The Show to make some predictions for the 2015 season. If you aren’t familiar with gaming, The Show is a long-running franchise that has been the essential video game for fans of baseball. From its customization, updated rosters and real life likenesses to players–it’s a must have. And I know, I “must have” every year.

Of course, simulating a baseball season on a game has so many variables it’s hard to take the results too serious. But it’s fun to see how a game that prides itself on its in-depth player ratings sees the MLB season playing out.

So how did the Chicago Cubs fair in their simulation?

The NL Central

The results of the NL Central were a bit surprising. The Cubs did manage to finish second, but it still wasn’t enough to make the postseason. The Cardinals (yawn) once again took the division, but it was the Pirates fall that was most intriguing.

1. Cardinals 89-73
2. Cubs 80-82
3. Brewers 79-83
4. Pirates 69-93
5. Reds 68-94

The Pirates found issue in their pitching, as only one was able to hit the 200 innings mark. That was Gerrit Cole, who led the Bucs in ERA (3.30), strikeouts )184, WHIP (1.31) and quality starts with 20. Mark Melancon continued to be a force for the Pirates, posting 54 saves in 55 innings with a 2.29 ERA.

Andrew McCutchen was his MVP like self, with a .303 batting average, .903 OPS, 27 home runs, 86 RBI, 13 SB, and 86 runs scored. But those few alone weren’t enough, as much of the Pirates roster found itself struggling for long-stretches of the season.

The Cubs finished with the second best pitching staff in the league, with four players pitching over 200 innings. Jon Lester, Travis Wood, Jason Hammel and Jake Arrieta all eclipsed the mark, and each carried an ERA under 3.00. But they all allowed 25 home runs or more on the year.

The bullpen blew 20 of their 70 save opportunities, which as a Cubs’ fan is never something you want to hear–simulation or otherwise. While they don’t say, I imagine Edwin Jackson was responsible for 18 of them. 

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• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

Anthony Rizzo was the most impressive at the plate, with 27 HR, 83 RBI, .797 OPS and  a .455 slugging percentage. The rest of the offense struggled, as the team couldn’t win with pitching alone. As far as Kris Bryant? A .242/.303/.389 slash line didn’t impress–but neither did a mid-season injury. On a brighter note, Jorge Soler won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in Bryant’s absence.

How the rest of the league played out

The NLCS saw the Washington Nationals advance to the World Series with a 4-2 series win over the Cardinals. Over in the American League, it took seven games for the Boston Red Sox to eliminate the Cleveland Indians to win the AL Pennant.

The Boston Red Sox win the 2015 MLB World Series 4-1 against the Washington Nationals.

Yes, that’s right, the Red Sox win it all again. Hanley Ramirez was your postseason MVP, sporting a .422 average, 6 home runs and 20 RBI. The World Series MVP trophy was handed to David Ortiz, who batted .526, hit 4 dingers and smacked in 11 RBI.

To see all the results of the simulation, make sure to head over to Gamesided.com. All the results, including postseason awards can be seen here. 

Next: 2015 Staff picks for the Cubs