2020 MLB Season: Simulating AL games, June 1-4

For the Yankees, the 2020 MLB season simulation is nothing but Happ-y times.

The Yankees retained their division lead by taking the final two games of their series in Seattle after dropping the opener 4-0. Yusei Kikuchi, 3-4, shut out New York on just two hits Monday, striking out 10 and walking one.

J.A. Happ, 6-2, picked up the Tuesday decision, his Yankee teammates scoring six times in the first two innings against James Dunn, 3-5. Gleyber Torres and Aaron Judge both homered, Torres adding two doubles and driving in four runs.

New York took the series rubber game 4-3 Wednesday when Aroldis Chapman quelled a ninth-inning Seattle rally for his 10th save. That made a winner out of Jonathan Loaisiga, 6-3. D J LeMahieu’s third-inning home run got New York going against Evan Swanson, 5-6.

Kohl Stewart, 4-5, pitched the Orioles past the Cubs 5-3 Tuesday, allowing just a Javier Baez home run and two hits in seven innings. But the Cubs came back to win 6-1 Wednesday, Alex Mills picking up his first victory against five losses. Backup catcher Josh Phegley provided the big blow, a fourth-inning double with the bases loaded that pushed across three of Phegley’s four RBIs for the game. Jonathan Means, 3-7, took the loss.

                                W-L        Pct          GB

New York             36-28     .563        —

Toronto                34-29     .540        1.5

Boston                 30-34     .469        6

Tampa Bay          29-35     .453        7

Baltimore            23-40     .365     12.5