Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates simulated game, Wednesday 4/29, 3 p.m. CT

The simCubs walked it off against the simPirates Wednesday, with Kyle Schwarber running through a stop sign at third base on a double by Ian Happ to score the winning run. Here are highlights:

Here are the simCubs results and schedule for April:

We have made a couple of roster moves. Jesus Luzardo is going to be sent back to Triple-A to join the rotation there, and Kyle Ryan is being recalled. We’ve also sent Jeremy Jeffress, who’s been pretty bad, to Iowa and called up Dillon Maples.

I have always had an irrational like for Maples. Now we’ll find out if he can do well in simulated baseball.

Once again, it’s supposed to rain in Chicago today pretty much through most of what would be the regularly scheduled game time, so we’re going to make it rain in the sim again.

Here at BCB, we are going to play simulated games for every game on the Cubs‘ 2020 schedule via MLB The Show 20. This will continue until the actual schedule begins, or we get some clarity on what’s actually going to happen with baseball this year.

Here is the complete BCB Mediacenter where all our BCB simulated games will be located. You can watch previous games which are all archived there, but please note: We won’t have the actual link to the live broadcast of today’s specific game until it starts. At that time, Duane will drop the direct link into the comments to this post around 3 p.m CT. Until then you can use the link in this paragraph as a guide to where to find the game. All of our simulated games will begin at 3 p.m. CT.

Here are today’s particulars.

This is Game 31 of the 2020 season, Cubs vs. Pirates at Wrigley Field, the last of a three-game series. The Cubs enter today with a 20-10 record. The Pirates are 8-22.

Yu Darvish will start for the Cubs. Jameson Taillon will start for the Pirates.

Today’s lineups:

Cubs

Rizzo 1B, Bryant 3B, Schwarber LF, Contreras RF, Happ CF, Caratini C, Kipnis 2B, Camargo SS, Darvish P

We’re going to shake things up a bit today. With Yu Darvish pitching, Victor Caratini catches, but since Willson Contreras is swinging a hot bat, to keep that bat in the lineup we’re giving Jason Heyward (who is ice-cold) a day off and playing Willson in RF. Javier Baez is also in a slump, so the recently-acquired Johan Camargo starts at SS to give Javy a break.

Pirates

Newman SS, Frazier 2B, Reynolds LF, Bell 1B, Moran 3B, Ploanco RF, Stallings C, Dyson CF, Taillon P

There won’t be any traditional-style “recaps” of these games. Duane will post some clips and boxscores in his Cub Tracks and Baseball history unpacked posts the morning after each game, so we can track this simulated season as it unfolds. We’ll post the standings as each day goes by.

A note on the headline here, because I know you’re going to ask: This is a real thread. The game is what is simulated.

Looking to join in on the fun? If so, you can get your own copy of MLB The Show. Here’s where you can order the game.

Enjoy, and discuss amongst yourselves.