Chicago Cubs vs. Tampa Bay Rays simulated game, Sunday 7/5, 3 p.m. CT

Kris Bryant homered twice and Victor Caratini went deep, his first this year, for the simCubs on Saturday.

Those were the only highlights in an ugly 12-7 loss. We’ll spare you the video.

After Saturday’s game, Duane and I made some roster moves. Tyler Chatwood hasn’t been good lately and was placed on the Iowa Shuttle along with Jharel Cotton. Alec Mills and Max Fried have returned to the big club. We also made a “Junior” swap, with Albert Almora Jr. returning to the big club, switching places with Steven Souza Jr.

Mills takes over Chatwood’s fifth spot in the rotation, though he’ll be on a short leash, and Fried will try to earn some trust as the second long man behind bullpen stalwart Jesus Luzardo. Trevor Megill takes over the 26th man spot, for now; he could be optioned if the simCubs need a bat at some point in the near future.

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 12 and possibly through whenever an actual season begins. 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 91 of the 2020 season, Cubs vs. Rays at Wrigley Field, the last of a three-game series. The Cubs enter today with a 63-27 record. The Rays are 51-40.

Yu Darvish will start for the Cubs. Our old buddy Jose Quintana will start for the Rays.

Today’s lineups:

Cubs

Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Baez SS, Contreras LF, Happ RF, Hoerner CF, Bote 2B, Caratini C, Darvish P

Rays

Martinez CF, Adames SS, Meadows RF, Renfroe LF, Choi 1B, Lowe 2B, Diaz 3B, Zunino C, Quintana 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.