2020 MLB Season: Simulating NL games – March 30 to April 1

As baseball remains in hiatus due to the coronavirus, we continue simulating games for the 2020 MLB season. Here are the results for 3/30 – 4/1 in the NL.

The Philadelphia Phillies rode a three-game sweep of the suddenly crippled Mets in New York to first place in the NL East through the first week of simulated games.

A surprising leader also emerged in the NL West, where the Arizona Diamondbacks picked on visiting San Francisco to open an early advantage in their division.

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The NL Central which many believed would be baseball’s most competitive division, held to that form. The Chicago Cubs swept a three-game series from visiting Pittsburgh to forge a tie with St. Louis, while Milwaukee and Cincinnati demonstrated the ability to stay in contention.

Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds and Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer provided the series’ offensive highlights. Facing the Cubs at Wrigley Field Apr. 1, Reynolds went 5-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. That performance lifted his batting average to .522.

But Hosmer went Reynolds one better. Against the Atlanta Braves March 30 in San Diego, Hosmer lit up a succession of pitchers for six hits in seven at-bats. Curiously, all six were singles, and Hosmer scored only once as his teammates repeatedly failed to take advantage of the opportunities Hosmer presented.

Hosmer finished the series hitting .414.

Then there was the curious case of Kyle Schwarber, who National League pitchers for the most part simply refused to pitch to. With good reason.

Against the Pirates at Wrigley Field, Schwarber received four more bases on balls in his dozen plate appearances, following up on the four he received in Milwaukee opening weekend.

When Schwarber did get something to cut at, it was bombs away. His two hits vs. Pittsburgh included a three-run home run, giving him a .706 slugging average and a 1.226 OPS.

Here is a summary of National League mid-week games from March 30 through April 1.