2020 MLB Season: Simulating NL games, May 15-17
Team profiles
In ensuing weeks, we’ll use this space to provide periodic statistical updates on one team in each division, working alphabetically.
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Atlanta Braves (30-18): The Braves’ success to date has been built on their pitching. At 3.50, Braves hurlers rank second behind only the Cardinals in staff ERA. Shane Greene has been a find at the back end, delivering 15 saves and a 3-0 record in 23 appearances. Atlanta has gotten 27 starts out of pitchers (Fried, Newcomb, Felix Hernandez) with sub-3.00 ERAs.
That consistent pitching has allowed the Braves to skate by with lackluster offensive production. Atlanta ranks 12th in average (.228) and ninth in hits (377), although they are sixth in runs scored.
Ozzie Albies leads Braves batters with a .295 average, but other notables have not yet gotten started. Freddie Freeman is off to a .219 start, and shortstop Dansby Swanson is hitting just .179. Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr. each have a dozen home runs; Albies leads in RBIs with 32.
Chicago Cubs (22-26): The Cubs are four games under .500 because their offense has been awful and their pitching not much better. Chicago is last in the NL in batting average at .223 with sub-par on-base and slugging averages as well. None of the regulars is hitting as much as .265, and Kris Bryant is off to a .197 start.
Javier Baez has 16 home runs, but he has only 27 non-home run hits and is stuck at .235. Baez does lead the team in RBIs with 36.
The pitching is better, but only comparatively so. The team ERA is 4.69, 12th in a league where the average is 4.22. Kyle Hendricks is 6-4 with a 2.28 ERA and Jon Lester is 3-3 3.66. The Cubs have periodically tried to give the fifth starter spot to Alec Mills, but he has steadfastly refused to accept it. In five starts he is 0-3 with a 7.85 ERA.
Arizona Diamondbacks (32-16): The D-Backs have been the surprise of the virtual season, keeping pace since opening day with the favored Los Angeles Dodgers, who they still must play 19 times. Obviously they can thank Ketel Marte’s sensational start for their position. Beyond leading the batting he has a .469 on-base average and .790 slugging average.
Kole Calhoun is almost as hot, boasting a .325/.391/.634 slash line through 194 official at-bats. It should be no surprise, then, that Arizona is hitting .280 as a team, running a close second to the Dodgers in that department.
Arizona’s pitching has held up its end of the deal, producing a 3.80 team ERA that ranks fourth in the league. Only St. Louis has given up fewer hits than Arizona’s 361, and only the Cardinals and Braves have allowed fewer runs.
The Arizona bullpen has played a key role. Between them, relievers Archie Bradley, Hector Rondon, and Yoan Lopez have given up just 37 hits in 55 innings of work, which translates to just 10 earned runs. They are a combined 8-2 with three saves. The D-Backs pitching will be even better if Madison Bumgarner and Robbie Ray ever get going. Thus far they have a combined 5.50 ERA in 19 starts, finagling their way to a 7-5 record thanks to seven runs of support per game.