Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals simulated game, Friday 5/8, 3 p.m. CT

The simCubs won in 11 innings Wednesday on a Willson Contreras home run, taking two of three from the simDodgers and having a 6-1 road trip.

Here are highlights:

Here are the standings entering today’s games:

Here are the N.L. leaders entering today’s games:

Here are the A.L. leaders entering today’s games:

We have made a roster move. Albert Almora Jr. has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa and Nico Hoerner has been recalled. Nico gets the start in center field today.

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 39 of the 2020 season, Cubs vs. Nationals at Wrigley Field, the first of a three-game series. The Cubs enter today with a 27-11 record and lead the N.L. Central by five games. The Cubs are 11-7 at home and 16-4 on the road. The Nats are 22-14.

Jon Lester will start for the Cubs. Stephen Strasburg will start for the Nationals.

Today’s lineups:

Cubs

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

Nationals

Turner SS, Eaton CF, Soto LF, Thames RF, Kendrick 2B, Zimmerman 1B, Suzuki C, Castro 3B, Strasburg 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.