2020 MLB Season: Simulating AL games, May 8-10
By Bill Felber
2020 MLB Season: Simulating AL games (May 8-10)
American League Central
The Twins added a game to their edge in the division with three victories in Kansas City, two of them one-sided.
They tied into Jacob Junis and two relievers for 15 hits in a 10-5 victory Friday as Jake Odorizzi ran his record to 6-2. Max Kepler followed up on his sensational mid-week series against the Giants with a three-for-four night that included his 13th home run and 32nd RBI.
The Twins won 10-6 Saturday, riding a 16-hit attack with Kepler delivering home run No. 14 and RBIs No. 33 and 34. Royals starter Danny Duffy took a 2.27 ERA into the game, among the league’s best. But Duffy recorded just two outs, in that time allowing five runs to cross the plate. The experience ballooned that ERA to 3.17.
The Twins completed the sweep Sunday with a 5-3 win. Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco provided the impetus, delivering back-to-back home runs off Eric Skoglund to start the game.
Jacoby Jones’ three-run home run capping a six-run Tiger outburst Friday off Adam Plutko in the third and fourth innings ensured that the Indians wouldn’t keep pace. The Tigers won 7-4 in Detroit. Cleveland took the Saturday contest 6-2 behind Mike Clevinger’s four-hitter and won 8-3 on Sunday for Carlos Carrasco. Franmil Reyes eased Carrasco’s labors with a first-inning grand slam off Tiger starter Daniel Norris.
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W-L Pct GB
Minnesota 29-11 .725 —
Cleveland 28-14 .667 2
Chicago 23-17 .575 6
Kansas City 18-23 .439 11.5
Detroit 15-25 .375 14