Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks simulated game, Sunday 4/5, 3 p.m. CT

The Cubs, having taken the first two games from the D-backs, go for the three-game sweep this afternoon. Saturday, the Cubs won 8-4. Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber homered and Jason Heyward had two doubles. Their season record entering today’s action is 6-2.

Here are some of the National League leaders through Saturday, as well as the N.L. Central standings.

Grid View

• N.L. Central standings through 4/4
• N.L. SLG leaders through 4/4
• N.L. RBI leaders through 4/4
• N.L. runs scored leaders through 4/4
• N.L. OPS leaders through 4/4
• N.L. BA leaders through 4/4
• N.L. WAR leaders through 4/4

As time goes by, we’ll post the standings for the entire NL and AL.

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 9 of the 2020 season, Cubs vs. Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field, the finale of a three-game series.

Jon Lester will start for the Cubs. Alex Young will start for the D-backs.

Today’s lineups:

Cubs

Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Baez SS, Contreras C, Bote 2B, Souza RF, Happ LF, Almora CF, Lester P

We are giving Heyward the day off today against the lefthander Young.

Diamondbacks

S. Marte CF, Ahmed SS, K. Marte 2B, Peralta LF, Escobar 3B, Kelly C, Walker 1B, Calhoun RF, Young 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.