Like many of our friends throughout the SB Nation network, we are simulating the 2020 MLB season with MLB The Show 20. While we are unable to stream the games as they would otherwise be happening, we will try to get ahead of the curve and post about the games on the same day they would have taken place. Now, onto the recap!
The last time the simulated Detroit Tigers faced Royals starter Heath Fillmyer, things did not go well for the 25-year-old, to say the least. Fillmyer only recorded one out in the fifth game of our sim at Comerica Park last week, and came into this game with a 162.00 ERA.
Things went a little better for Fillmyer this time, but only just. The Tigers again jumped out to an early lead against the righthander and won in blowout fashion, taking a 10-1 decision at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday.
Once again, the Tigers wasted little time putting runs up on the board against Fillmyer. Victor Reyes singled to lead off the game, and moved to third base on a one-out hit from Miguel Cabrera. Christin Stewart hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field to score Reyes, and Cameron Maybin followed with a two-run shot to put the Tigers up 3-0.
Tigers starter Ivan Nova quickly gave a run back in the bottom of the first. The first three Royals hitters Nova faced reached base, leading to a quick mound visit from manager Ron Gardenhire. Luckily for Detroit, Nova settled down after that to retire the side and then some. He pounded the bottom of the strike zone incessantly — and got a bit of help from an erratic virtual umpire — and gave up just three more hits and a walk over the next five innings.
Meanwhile, the Tigers offense never took their foot off the gas. Reyes tripled to lead off the third inning, and scored on a Cabrera double, pushing Detroit’s lead to 4-1. Christin Stewart added a two-run homer just three pitches later, and the rout was on. The Tigers added runs in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and ninth for the final margin. Stewart added a second homer later in the game, and Miguel Cabrera hit a solo shot, his second of the season.
After scoring at will on Monday, the Royals offense couldn’t muster much more of a threat after the first inning. Nova’s aforementioned contributions netted him his first win of the season, and Michael Fulmer recorded his first career save by working the final three innings of the game.