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!
The simulated Detroit Tigers capped off their road trip with a win on Sunday, this one a 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Clint Frazier and C.J. Cron homered, and the Tigers finally gave Spencer Turnbull enough run support for him to record his third win of the season.
The Tigers kicked off the scoring in the top of the first again. After Orioles starter Keegan Akin retired the first two batters of the frame, Miguel Cabrera got things started with a single up the middle. Cron followed with a double off the wall in right field, which moved Cabrera up to third. Jonathan Schoop continued the rally with a single up the middle to score both runners, putting the Tigers up 2-0.
After Turnbull tossed a scoreless first inning, the teams traded solo home runs in the second. Frazier put the Tigers up 3-0 in the top of the inning with a homer that just barely cleared the wall in left, his second in a Detroit uniform. O’s designated hitter D.J. Stewart put his club on the board in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to right, his sixth of the season.
The score held at 3-1 until the sixth, when both clubs traded solo shots again. Detroit’s came from Cron, who launched his 26th big fly of the season into the left field seats to send Akin to the showers. In the bottom of the inning, Trey Mancini lofted a Turnbull fastball to left for his 18th homer of the season, which Detroit’s lead back to two runs.
But thanks to strong work from Turnbull and the bullpen, four runs made for a comfortable win. Turnbull gave up another hit before retiring Austin Hays on a deep flyout to end the sixth, and Gregory Soto worked around a leadoff single to make it through the seventh. Buck Farmer and Joe Jimenez went 1-2-3 in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to close out the win.
Roster moves
As mentioned in our previous recap, the Tigers placed Cameron Maybin on the 10-day injured list following a hand injury he suffered in Saturday’s game. To replace him on the 26-man roster, the Tigers called up reliever David McKay.
Additionally, the Tigers recalled catcher Jake Rogers from Triple-A Toledo. Backup catcher Grayson Greiner was sent down to the minors. Rogers went 1-for-4 with a double in his first MLB action of the season.
Up next
The Tigers are off on Monday before returning home for series against the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals. Next week, they have road series against the Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros before reaching the All-Star break.
Check out our full simulation stats here!