2020 MLB Season: Simulating AL games, June 19-21

In the AL Central this 2020 MLB season, Civale is all aces for the Indians.

The White Sox’ waning hopes in the Central took a hit in Cleveland. On Friday Francisco Lindor, Franmil Reyes, and Orlando Mercado all homered as Cleveland won 8-3 for Aaron Civale, who is now 7-3 on the season. Gio Gonzalez lasted only four innings for Chicago and saw his record fall to 5-6.

The Sox avoided a weekend sweep by surviving a 4-3 14-inning marathon Saturday. A three-run Cleveland eighth had erased Dallas Keuchel’s shutout work to that point, but both bullpens silenced the other guys until Leury Garcia’s double sent Nomar Mazara across the plate in the 14th. Alex Colome allowed a Jose Ramirez double in the bottom of the 14th, but Reyes grounded out to end that threat. A Chicago loss would have been soul-crushing considering that they left 16 runners on base.

Then again, Sunday’s outcome was no vitamin pill to the Sox. Roberto Perez’s grand slam off Lucas Giolito, 8-4, keyed a five-run second inning and the Indians rode Mike Clevinger’s seven innings to a 6-3 win. The grand slam was the first of two four-baggers Perez hit in support of Clevinger, who is now 5-2.

The big surprise came at Dodger Stadium, where the Tigers recovered from a Friday licking to take the final two games of their inter-league series. Alex Wood dominated the opener for LA with seven innings, supported by Mookie Betts’ two-run home run.

On Saturday, however, Daniel Norris out-pitched Walker Buehler, and the Tigers took a 3-1 decision. Norris, 5-6, allowed six hits in his eight innings, but only Cody Bellinger’s home run was costly. Then in the seventh Dawel Lugo tapped Buehler for a three-run home run – only his third of the season – and Joe Jimenez closed it out for his 13th save.

Sunday’s contest was a wide-open one in which starters Scott Turnbull and  David Price both took a beating. The teams combined for 24 hits and the Tigers left 15 runners on base but still did enough to pull out a 12-8 victory. Harold Castro drove in four runs and Niko Goodrum three more in support of Turnbull, 4-5.

                                                W-L          Pct         GB

Minnesota Twins              51-28     .646        —

Cleveland Indians             50-28     .641             .5

Chicago White Sox           40-38     .513        10.5

Kansas City Royals          32-48     .400        19.5

Detroit Tigers                   28-48     .368         21.5