Call to the pen
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2020 MLB Season: Simulating NL games, April 10-12

By Bill Felber

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 24: Dexter Fowler #25 of the St Louis Cardinals is congratulated by manager Mike Shildt #8 after hitting a solo home run off of Mike Leake #8 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Chase Field on September 24, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 24: Dexter Fowler #25 of the St Louis Cardinals is congratulated by manager Mike Shildt #8 after hitting a solo home run off of Mike Leake #8 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Chase Field on September 24, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

2020 MLB Season: Simulating NL games (April 10-12)

National League Central

Coming off a Thursday loss in the series opener, the Phillies dropped Friday’s and Saturday’s games in Cincinnati as well before recouping the final game Sunday.

The Reds jumped out to a 5-0 lead Friday behind Nick Castellanos’ double, home run and four RBIs, then hung on for a 6-5 victory. On Saturday, Sonny Gray silenced the Phillies on six hits into the eighth inning and Cincy beat Zack Wheeler 4-2.

The Phils gained a small measure of revenge Sunday with a five-homer attack on Wade Miley and three relievers in a 7-0 shutout. Zach Eflin pitched eight strong innings and Tommy Hunter mopped it up. Jay Bruce homered twice, Bryce Harper, Logan Forsythe, and Rhys Hoskins once each.

The Cardinals gave Chicago only one chance, and the Cubs weren’t up to seizing it. On Friday St. Louis forced out Cubs ace Yu Darvish in a 2-0 battle with Cardinals veteran Adam Wainwright, then went to work on Chicago’s pen. The result: a 12-1 Cardinals victory. Harrison Bader and Kolten Wong both homered and drove in three runs for the Cardinals.

The Cubs offense, already slowed by the loss of Anthony Rizzo last week, took another blow Friday when catcher Willson Contreras split a finger on a foul tip. He’ll be out for an estimated two weeks.

On Saturday Miles Mikolas shut out the Cubs 6-0 on four hits and Dexter Fowler produced a three-run home run. The Cubs led 2-1 into the seventh inning Sunday before Rangel Ravelo delivered a two-run pinch-hit home run. The Cardinals completed the sweep against Kyle Hendricks 3-2.

New York salvaged the final game of its four-game visit to Milwaukee but otherwise came away empty. On Friday Eric Lauer out-pitched Steven Matz 7-3 as New York stranded 11 baserunners. The Brewers took Saturday’s game 8-6, Eric Sogard’s two hits including a home run

New York’s only win came Sunday when Jacob deGrom won for the first time this year. DeGrom also drove in two runs with a sixth-inning single.

The Pirates took two of three in Baltimore; follow this link for those details.

Related Story. 2020 MLB Season: Simulating NL games, April 6-9. light

                                W-L         Pct          GB

St. Louis               11-5       .688        —

Cincinnati               9-5       .643        1

Chicago                   7-9       .438        4

Milwaukee             6-8       .429        4

Pittsburgh              6-10    .375        5

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