Simulated World Series: Cole, Judge come through for Yankees in Game 5

How will this year's World Series play out? Using the Dynasty League Baseball online simulation, USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will pre-play each game to provide some insight into the key matchups and strategy fans can expect to see in the Fall Classic.

When the going gets tough, baseball teams need to be able to rely on their stars.

Arguably the two most important players on the New York Yankees played critical roles in a 2-0 shutout of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of USA TODAY Sports' annual Simulated World Series.

Ace Gerrit Cole tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings and MVP Aaron Judge hit a mammoth home run to propel the Yankees to victory, but not before some ninth-inning drama had the Dodgers within an eyelash of reversing the outcome.

BOX SCORE: Yankees 2, Dodgers 0

FULL PLAY-BY-PLAY: Cole, Judge come up big for Yanks in Game 5

World Series Game 5 simulation

In a rematch of Game 1, starting pitchers Cole and Jack Flaherty matched zeroes early -- albeit in very different fashion. The Dodgers had baserunners in scoring position in each of the first four frames, but Cole continually managed to escape with crucial strikeouts in situations where a batter even making weak contact would have scored a run.

Meanwhile, Flaherty retired the first 12 Yankees batters in order before doubles by Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo plated the game's first run. (Rizzo's hit through a drawn-in infield was his first of the Sim Series, breaking an 0-for-16 skid.)

Judge provided the big blow of the game, a gargantuan 501-foot blast to deep left field in the bottom of the sixth inning that gave New York an important insurance run. It was Judge's third home run of the Sim Series.

But the Yankees still had to keep the potent Dodgers lineup from scoring. Lefty Nestor Cortes came in to face the top of the order in the seventh, allowing a single to Shohei Ohtani, but getting Freddie Freeman to hit into a fielder's choice for the final out.

With Yankees closer Luke Weaver unavailable after his seven-out save in Game 4, the Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth. However, lefty Tim Hill retired Freeman on a soft grounder to first to end the game.

What to watch in (the real) Game 5

Pitcher's duel? The two teams will have their best starters on full rest in Game 5; how long will the managers stick with them? In our Sim Series both Cole and Flaherty made it into the sixth inning, with Cole being relieved by Tommy Kahnle for the final out in the sixth and Flaherty giving way to Alex Vesia to start the seventh.

One thing to watch, Cole has had trouble holding runners on base this season. Dynasty League Baseball gives him a D hold rating, which puts him among the worst in the majors. The Dodgers took advantage by stealing three bases off Cole in Sim Series Game 5.

Yankees' shaky fielding: It's been a recurring theme throughout the Sim Series and the World Series, and the Yankees put themselves in difficult spots due to their inability to make routine plays.

• Third baseman Jazz Chisholm couldn't range far enough into the hole to flag a ground ball by Betts in the first. He then misplayed a grounder by Will Smith in the second for an error.

• Catcher Austin Wells' throwing error on a stolen base attempt in the first allowed Betts to go all the way to third.

• First baseman Anthony Rizzo was unable to run down a foul ball off the bat of Freeman.

Missed opportunities: The Dodgers had a runner on base every inning of the game, but went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base in the shutout loss. They also had a little bit of bad luck mixed in with two runners nailed at the plate. In addition, Yankees right fielder Juan Soto threw out Tommy Edman at second on a bizarre play in the fifth inning in which he struck out, but catcher Austin Wells missed the ball and then threw wildly to first trying to record the putout. Soto recovered in time to gun down Edman trying to take an extra base.

Bases-loaded drama: In a situation eerily reminiscent of what happened in Game 1 of the actual World Series, the Dodgers loaded the bases in the ninth inning with a chance to tie or take the lead.

While in real life, Yankees manager Aaron Boone turned to Cortes to face Freeman -- and saw him give up a game-winning grand slam, virtual Boone had Cortes face the Dodgers' key lefty hitters in the seventh and called on Hill in the ninth.

In this instance, Hill gave up a double to Ohtani and intentionally walked Betts to fill the bases. And in the confrontation Yankees fans wish they'd seen in Game 1, Hill got Freeman to hit a ground ball to first for the final out.

Previous 2024 Sim Series results

Game 1: Dodgers 13, Yankees 9

Game 2: Yankees 7, Dodgers 4

Game 3: Dodgers 9, Yankees 5

Game 4: Yankees 4, Dodgers 3

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Simulated World Series predictions: Cole, Judge lift Yankees in Game 5