Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds simulated game, Friday 7/17, 3 p.m. CT

The simulated Cubs are blowing away the rest of the N.L. Central and the National League, playing at a .698 winning percentage so far, the equivalent of a 113-win regular season.

Here at BCB, we are going to play simulated games for every game on the Cubs‘ 2020 original schedule via MLB The Show 20. Now that we have had an announcement of an actual 2020 season, we are going to continue these daily simulations through at least July 23, when the 60-game season is scheduled to begin. The Cubs’ 60-game season begins July 24. No matter what happens to the actual 2020 MLB season, we will play out the entire simulated season offline and let you know the results.

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 97 of the 2020 season, Cubs vs. Reds at Wrigley Field, the first of a three-game series. The Cubs enter today with a 67-29 record. The Reds are 50-46.

Yu Darvish will start for the Cubs. Trevor Bauer will start for the Reds.

Today’s lineups:

Cubs

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

Reds

Castellanos RF, Winker LF, Votto 1B, Suarez 3B, Moustakas 2B, Barnhart C, Galvis SS, Senzel CF, Bauer 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.