Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks simulated game, Friday 5/1, 3 p.m. CT

The simCubs crushed the simD-backs 9-3 Thursday in the series opener, their fourth straight win. Willson Contreras went 3-for-4 with a home run and Anthony Rizzo also homered to lead the 15-hit attack. Here are some highlights:

Here’s the Cubs schedule and results for April:

Here are the standings through games of April 30:

Here are the National League leaders through April 30:

Here are the American League leaders through April 30:

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 33 of the 2020 season, Cubs vs. Diamondbacks at Chase Field, the second of a four-game series. The Cubs enter today with a 22-10 record. The D-backs are 10-21.

Jose Quintana will start for the Cubs. Zac Gallen will start for the D-backs.

Today’s lineups:

Cubs

Rizzo 1B, Bryant 3B, Baez SS, Schwarber LF, Contreras C, Kipnis 2B, Happ CF, Heyward RF, Quintana P

Q was a little better in his last outing. We still have Alec Mills and Max Fried to take his place if needed.

D-backs

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