AI Bullpen Management in championship high leverage situations

[Laredo Slider]

(for background, in a online league with modern, 2026 settings)

I just witnessed the AI stick with a reliever set at Stopper with a secondary of high leverage, with all sliders (team and individual) at Quick, and not a notch higher - through a meltdown, in the playoffs.

The reliever entered in the 8th, with the team up 1. We score 2 top 9 and he starts the 9th, up 3 (save opportunity). I would have liked the closer, as per what every manager would probably do, but okay...AI wants to conserve the arm or whatever....fine (not really). He allows a 2 run jack. Okay.... Time for the closer. No! (And the pen is rested, no days off set... nothing). He stays in to allow another base runner and two run jack...

Using a stopper role in modern day may override the closer role in the game, or something stupid, but does the AI manage a game the same in the playoffs, as it would a regular season game? Does cWPA or high leverage championship spots not matter? And how the f*** does any role override a closer, in a save opportunity, in the playoffs?

[beepollen]

Originally Posted by Laredo Slider

(for background, in a online league with modern, 2026 settings)

I just witnessed the AI stick with a reliever set at Stopper with a secondary of high leverage, with all sliders (team and individual) at Quick, and not a notch higher - through a meltdown, in the playoffs.

The reliever entered in the 8th, with the team up 1. We score 2 top 9 and he starts the 9th, up 3 (save opportunity). I would have liked the closer, as per what every manager would probably do, but okay...AI wants to conserve the arm or whatever....fine (not really). He allows a 2 run jack. Okay.... Time for the closer. No! (And the pen is rested, no days off set... nothing). He stays in to allow another base runner and two run jack...

Using a stopper role in modern day may override the closer role in the game, or something stupid, but does the AI manage a game the same in the playoffs, as it would a regular season game? Does cWPA or high leverage championship spots not matter? And how the f*** does any role override a closer, in a save opportunity, in the playoffs?

Having watched Dave Roberts end his teams' seasons via boneheaded tactical decisions with his bullpen, I see what you describe as just another way OOTP gets the game right.