Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB Games: Simulating opening weekend for the NL

By Bill Felber

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 08: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets in action against the Houston Astros during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 08: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets in action against the Houston Astros during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Max Scherzer: Ejected from his first simulated start.. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Max Scherzer: Ejected from his first simulated start.. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Simulating MLB Games

NL East

Possibly the most anticipated opening weekend series pitting defending champion Washington Nationals against the New York Mets went entirely New York’s way, At Citi Field, the Mets won all three games, two of them 4-3 and the Sunday contest 4-1.

That was the good news. The bad news, of course, was the arm soreness experienced by projected No. 2 starter Noah Syndergaard that put him under the knife for season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Pete Alonso homered in the season opener, a game in which Nats starter Max Scherzer was ejected from what at that point was a 3-3 tie for arguing balls and strikes.

The Phillies led 3-0  entering the eighth inning on Saturday when Dominic Smith’s pinch-hit home run finally got New York’s offense going. In the ninth, Alonso delivered another home run, this one a three-run walk-off against Nats closer Will Harris.

More. 2020 MLB season: It's time to rethink the schedule. light

New York completed the sweep Sunday with Marcus Stroman out-pitching Patrick Corbin 4-1.

The visiting Phillies took three of four against the Miami Marlins. Aaron Nola delivered a strong outing in a 7-2 opening day victory, and Zach Wheeler followed by leading a 3-0 whitewashing of the Marlins on Friday. That game was scoreless until the ninth when Scott Kingery produced a bases-clearing double.

The Marlins got in the win column Saturday as Caleb Smith and three relievers scattered 13 hits in a 4-3 win that was only sealed Jose Alfaro’s home run started a two-run ninth-inning uprising against Ranger Suarez. The Phillies rode J.T. Realmuto’s three-run home run to Sunday’s 7-2 victory.

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