diff --git a/app/services/simulations/mls-simulator.ts b/app/services/simulations/mls-simulator.ts
index 3904d38..b159855 100644
--- a/app/services/simulations/mls-simulator.ts
+++ b/app/services/simulations/mls-simulator.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import { getParticipantSimulatorInputs, getSportsSeasonSimulatorConfig } from "~
 import { simulateEloSoccerMatch, simulateSimpleSoccerGoals } from "./soccer-helpers";
 import type { EloSoccerMatchOptions } from "./soccer-helpers";
 import { normalizeSimulationResultColumns } from "./simulation-probabilities";
+import { logger } from "~/lib/logger";
 
 // ─── Default constants (overridable via season simulator config) ───────────────
 
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ const MLS_PLAYOFF_TEAMS_PER_CONF = 9;
 
 function configNumber(config: Record<string, unknown> | undefined, key: string, fallback: number): number {
   const value = config?.[key];
-  return typeof value === "number" && Number.isFinite(value) && value > 0 ? value : fallback;
+  return typeof value === "number" && Number.isFinite(value) && value >= 0 ? value : fallback;
 }
 
 // ─── Public types ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -205,8 +206,9 @@ function getBySeeds(
   seeds: MlsConferenceSeed[],
   ...seedNums: number[]
 ): MlsConferenceSeed[] {
+  const byNum = new Map(seeds.map((s) => [s.seed, s]));
   return seedNums.map((n) => {
-    const entry = seeds.find((s) => s.seed === n);
+    const entry = byNum.get(n);
     if (!entry) throw new Error(`MLS playoff seed ${n} not found in conference bracket.`);
     return entry;
   });
@@ -397,7 +399,13 @@ export class MLSSimulator implements Simulator {
     const teamsWithElo = participants.flatMap((p): MlsTeamEntry[] => {
       const elo = eloMap.get(p.id);
       const conf = conferenceMap.get(p.id);
-      if (elo === undefined || conf === undefined) return [];
+      if (elo === undefined || conf === undefined) {
+        logger.warn(
+          `MLSSimulator: no Elo rating for participant "${p.name}" (${p.id}). ` +
+            `They will be excluded from simulation. Enter sourceElo or projectedTablePoints via Admin → Elo Ratings.`
+        );
+        return [];
+      }
       const standing = standingsMap.get(p.id);
       const wins = standing?.wins ?? 0;
       const draws = standing?.ties ?? 0;