Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds simulated game, Friday 5/29, 3 p.m. CT

The simCubs won their series against the simMarlins with an 8-3 thrashing on Thursday. Willson Contreras homered twice and Jason Kipnis also went deep. Here are highlights!

This series, the first time the simCubs have faced the simReds this year, will be a good test. Mostly, the simCubs have been beating up on bad teams.

simCubs vs. Pirates, D-backs, Padres and Marlins: 25-5
simCubs vs. all other teams: 14-13

Also:

simCubs at home: 17-10
simCubs on road: 22-8

That’s a reversal from last year when the real Cubs were awful away from Wrigley Field.

Eight of the simCubs’ next 10 games will be against the simReds. After that stretch we should have a better idea of the division race.

As is our custom before each series, here are the league standings:

N.L. leaders:

A.L. leaders:

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 58 of the 2020 season, Cubs vs. Reds at Wrigley Field, the first of a four-game series. The Cubs enter today with a 39-18 record. The Reds are 32-24, in second place 6½ games behind the Cubs.

Ryan Yarbrough will start for the Cubs. Luis Castillo will start for the Reds.

Today’s lineups:

Cubs

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

Reds

Castellanos RF, Senzel CF, Votto 1B, Suarez 3B, Moustakas 2B, Galvis SS, Ervin LF, Casali C, Castillo 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.