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!
For the third day in a row, the simulated Detroit Tigers jumped out to an early lead only to see their offense sputter in a one-run loss. Nolan Arenado continued to torment the Tigers on Tuesday, as his two-run single in the fifth was enough to help his Colorado Rockies down Detroit, 4-3.
Just like Monday’s outing, the Tigers jumped out to an early lead. Victor Reyes led off the bottom of the first inning with a double, and Cameron Maybin followed with a walk. Miguel Cabrera hit a bloop single into right to score Reyes, and C.J. Cron followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Tigers up 2-0.
Easy as that, right?
Not so much. Jonathan Schoop grounded into a double play to end the first, and the Rockies immediately answered with a two-out rally in the top of the second. Daniel Murphy found outfield grass with a bloop single, and Ian Desmond drew a walk. Light-hitting catcher Dom Nunez made Matthew Boyd pay by driving an elevated fastball into the deepest part of Comerica Park’s outfield, scoring both runners to tie the game.
The Rockies took the lead for good in the top of the fifth. Desmond led off the inning with a single, and moved to third on a one-out double by Tony Wolters. The Tigers elected to intentionally walk leadoff hitter Trevor Story to set up a double play opportunity, but it backfired. Boyd struck out Raimel Tapia for the second out of the inning, but Nolan Arenado came through with a single to score two runs.
The two-run deficit proved to be enough, as the Tigers could not figure out Rockies starter Kyle Freeland. The lefthander clamped down after the first inning, and didn’t allow a hit until the Tigers finally pushed a run across in the bottom of the sixth. Dawel Lugo led off the inning with a double, and Cameron Maybin plated him with a one-out single. Cabrera followed with another hit, moving Maybin to third. But the double play ball reared its ugly head once again, as C.J. Cron grounded into a twin-killing to end the threat.
That sixth inning rally ended up being the Tigers’ best chance to score. They put runners on in the eighth and ninth — the latter being Isaac Paredes’ first career hit — but, save for a long fly ball from Christin Stewart that tailed just foul, they did little to threaten the Rockies bullpen, instead dropping to their third consecutive defeat.
Roster moves!
After chatting with a few people in the comments of Monday’s recap, I decided to take the boring route and shore up the bullpen with righthander Jose Cisnero. The deciding factor? Cisnero’s stats in Triple-A were far better than most of the other players we discussed. He rewarded that faith by throwing a scoreless seventh inning.
However, with a fatigued lineup — Niko Goodrum, and Jeimer Candelario were both unavailable, and a couple others will be out of the lineup on Wednesday — I thought it would be a good idea to call someone up in lieu of Harold Castro, who has poor stats against left-handed pitchers. Enter Isaac Paredes, who was hitting over .300 with some decent pop at Triple-A. He will remain on the MLB roster for the time being, unless I struggle to get him into games consistently.