Halfway into the 2020 MLB season simulation, the NL’s two best teams will finally meet.
Nearly halfway through the simulated 2020 season, the National League’s two best teams are finally poised to meet one another. They’re also about to make a habit of it.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers, possessing the National League’s two best records, will play Thursday in Los Angeles for the first of 19 times. Seven of those 19 games will take place during the next 10 days.
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The Diamondbacks will carry a two-game advantage into the four-game series at Dodger Stadium, coming off a series victory in San Diego while the Dodgers lost two of three in Atlanta.
The D-Backs won 7-1 Friday, blowing open a 2-1 game with two runs in the seventh inning and three more in the eighth. Robbie Ray, 5-3, held the Padres to that single run and just two hits, and Kole Calhoun homered twice to drive in three runs.
That added a game to Arizona’s lead because NL East-leading Atlanta pummeled Clayton Kershaw and two relievers 12-1. Marcell Ozuna’s three hits, one of them a home run, led a 12-hit Braves attack. Max Fried, 9-3, for the victory.
The D-Backs stretched their lead by one more game Saturday, winning 6-1 while the Braves took the Dodgers to task again, this time 12-4. In San Diego, Mike Leake moved his record to 6-2 with a four-hitter. Calhoun again provided the offense, homering, doubling twice and driving in five runs.
In Atlanta, meanwhile, a 14-hit Braves attack did in starter Ross Stripling, 3-6, and three relievers. Freddie Freeman homered, singled twice and drove in three runs, and a nine-run Braves fifth inning removed all suspense.
Sunday was turnaround day in both key NL West matchups, the Dodgers polishing off the Braves 10-1. Backup catcher Tim Federowicz’s home run played a role, ensuring Walker Buehler’s sixth victory against a single defeat. In San Diego, meanwhile, the Padres rode a five-run seventh – fueled by Tommy Pham’s grand slam — to a 7-6 win for Garrett Richards, working in relief of Drew Pomeranz. Pham’s home run, off Kevin Ginkel, made a loser out of Madison Bumgarner, 4-6.
In other weekend NL action, the Central-leading Cincinnati Reds took two of three from the Milwaukee Brewers, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs twice in London, and the Washington Nationals swept the New York Mets at Citi Field.
The Miami Marlins won two of three in San Francisco, the Colorado Rockies took two of three from Pittsburgh in Denver, and the Philadelphia Phillies lost two parts of a three-game interleague series with the Oakland Athletics in Philadelphia.