Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates simulated game, Tuesday 5/19, 3 p.m. CT

The simCubs held on to beat the simPadres 2-1 Sunday and took three of four in that series. They also completed the season series vs. San Diego, winning four of seven.

That means the simCubs have the following record:

vs. Pirates, D-backs, Nats and Padres: 26-5
vs. all other teams (Brewers, Cardinals, Orioles, Dodgers, Phillies): 8-9

Thankfully, the next series is against the simPirates. The simCubs are 9-1 against them.

Here are the league standings entering Tuesday’s action. The Cubs are leading the N.L. Central, eight games ahead of the Brewers and Cardinals:

Here are the N.L. leaders through Monday:

And, here are the A.L. leaders through Monday:

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 49 of the 2020 season, Cubs vs. Pirates at PNC Park, the first of a three-game series. The Cubs enter today with a 34-14 record. The Pirates are 13-33. (Yikes.)

Jon Lester will start for the Cubs. Joe Musgrove will start for the Pirates.

Today’s lineups:

Cubs

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

Pirates

Newman SS, Frazier 2B, Reynolds LF, Bell 1B, Polanco RF, Moran 3b, Stallings C, Dyson CF, Musgrove 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.