2020 MLB Season: Simulating AL games, May 29-31

Bo Bichette of the surging Toronto Blue Jays. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Bo Bichette of the surging Toronto Blue Jays. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
4 of 6
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

The A’s begin their chase of Houston in this edition of the 2020 MLB season simulation.

The Athletics edged into second place in the division by taking two of three from Texas. The Rangers, however, won Friday’s series opener 8-5 behind Kyle Gibson, 5-5. Ronald Guzman’s three-run fifth-inning home run off Chris Bassitt, 4-6, was the key blow.

The  A’s got a three-run shot from the suddenly productive Chad Pinder to win Saturday’s game 4-2. Pinder’s home run came in the second inning off Corey Kluber, 3-5, and made a winner of Mike Fiers. 7-3.

On Sunday, Texas carried a 4-3 lead into the ninth only to see Matt Chapman’s two-run home run off Jose LeClerc lead a three-run Oakland comeback that produced a 6-4 win.

The Astros beat Boston 2-1 Friday, Brad Peacock allowing just three hits into the eighth inning. That ran Peacock’s record to 5-2.  The Astros took Saturday’s game 5-2, this time behind Jose Urquidi, 4-3. Yuli Gurriel homered twice.

The Red Sox survived a shaky Sunday start from Collin McHugh to pull out an 8-6 win, scoring twice in the ninth inning off Josh Smith, 0-2, to do it. Christian Vazquez and Kevin pillar provided the muscle, delivering back-to-back home runs.

The Mariners rattled former teammate Felix Hernandez, 6-2, and NL East-leading Atlanta, routing them 13-2 Friday behind Evan White’s two home runs, good for five RBIs. In his return to Seattle, Hernandez failed to get through the third inning, allowing five runs on six hits, two of them home runs. Evan Swanson, 5-5, got the win.

Seattle added a 3-2 win Saturday, Marco Gonzalez, 5-6, outdueling Mike Foltyniewicz, 7-2.   The Braves avoided a sweep by winning 7-4 Sunday thanks in part to Dansby Swanson’s three-run home run. Mike Soroka, 3-5, got the win and Taijuan Walker, 1-4, took the defeat.

                                 W-L        Pct           GB

Houston               40-20     .667        —

Oakland                33-28     .541        7.5

Texas                     31-28     .525        8.5

Los Angeles         26-33     .431     14

Seattle                  22-39     .361     18.5