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LA Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw spins a no-hitter, in simulation city

By James Simmons

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 20: Pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a portrait during MLB media day on February 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 20: Pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a portrait during MLB media day on February 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The simulated version of Clayton Kershaw threw a no-hitter on Thursday, making us yearn for real baseball even more.

If only the playoff Clayton Kershaw pitched like the simulated Clayton Kershaw, then the Los Angles Dodgers may have gotten the first World Series since 1988 by now.

The simulated game took place at Citizens Bank Park against the Philadelphia Phillies and there was no mention of how many simulated spectators were on hand to witness the marvel.

Kershaw needed 125 pitches to mow down the Phillies with Andrew McCutchen being the only Phillie to earn his way on base, with two walks.

Cody Bellinger provided the offense with a three run jack, though the Dodgers piled on to walk away 9-0 winners, cementing what is believed to be Kershaw’s first virtual no-hitter.

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The complete boxscore from Kershaw’s pitching gem can be found here.

I have been pulling up the scores and standings on a daily basis from the OOTP Baseball 21 model as well as following my man Bill Felber‘s updates. These have both been good ways for me to stay in touch with the virtual happenings of the game we strive to get back.

There has always been something missing, and the simulated season continues to lack. However, sifting through the scores today to see Kershaw’s masterpiece brought some warmth to my day.

I’m sure these simulation models are built on equations and formulas and more computer than intuition. There are no blood, sweat, and tears in the simulated games, not like the ones which are played for real.

While I like the Kershaw no-hitter, I recognize it means nothing in the real world. There will be no newspaper articles written about the feat, no mention on ESPN. Aside from the three-hundred plus words I scrawl out, the virtual no-no will go unnoticed.

In some form or fashion, I like to think the years of hard work Kershaw put in on the real field had something to do with the formula causing today’s event to happen (and the fact the simulated Phillies have four regulars hitting around the Mendoza line).

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No hitters like the one today help me pass the time until the boys of summer get back into action.

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