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. Or, you know, at least get them back on schedule. Now, onto the recap!
As has often been the case lately, the simulated Detroit Tigers followed up a win by getting absolutely hammered in the next game. This time around, the Minnesota Twins hit five home runs in a 9-0 spanking at Comerica Park.
This one was over from the start. Tigers starter Ivan Nova retired the first two batters he faced, but gave up a two-out single to Nelson Cruz to extend the top of the first. Miguel Sano followed with a towering home run to left, giving the Twins a 2-0 lead. A routine ground ball from Josh Donaldson was flubbed at short by Isaac Paredes, and Mitch Garver capped off the first inning with another two-run homer, doubling Minnesota’s lead.
There’s not much more to say, really. The Tigers struggled to get anything going against Twins starter Kenta Maeda; they didn’t put a runner on base until the third inning, and C.J. Cron’s double in the bottom of the sixth broke up Maeda’s no-hit bid. After the Tigers finally started to make harder contact against Maeda, nearly everything was hit at a Twins fielder — mostly center fielder Byron Buxton, which is never a good idea.
Nova settled down a bit after the first inning, but only made it through five frames in all. Buxton hit a solo shot in the fifth, his seventh of the year, to extend Minnesota’s lead. Rony Garcia threw 2 1⁄3 innings out of the bullpen, but gave up three more runs. Even Anthony Castro couldn’t come through unscathed, allowing a homer to Max Kepler in the top of the ninth.
Roster moves!
Rony Garcia was left out to dry a bit in this one, but that was by design. He will be designated for assignment prior to Wednesday’s game — the game might let me option him, but he would have to clear waivers in real life — and the simulated Tigers will need to make a corresponding move to fill their 26-man roster. Once again, let’s discuss who should be called up in the comments!