2020 MLB Season: Simulating AL games, June 22-26
By Bill Felber
In this 2020 MLB season simulation, the Indians jump Minnesota, which gets swept in Houston.
The AL Central has a new leader thanks to the West.
The Cleveland Indians moved into first place in the 2020 AL simulation this week when they swept a two-game series with the Padres in San Diego while the Minnesota Twins were being swept by the Houston Astros at Minute Maid.
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It’s Cleveland’s first taste of the AL Central top spot since a brief stay there in early May. The Indians got there by winning 13 of their last 14 games while the Twins have been busy dropping five straight.
Of course, lots of teams have trouble at Minute Maid, where the Astros are 29-13 on the season.
On Monday, Jose Urquidy scattered eight hits over seven innings in a 7-3 decision. Urquidy, 6-4, also held the Twins sluggers to just one home run, that coming off the bat of Nelson Cruz. Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Yuli Gurriel all drove in two runs. Jake Odorizzi, 10-4, took the loss.
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Justin Verlander demonstrated his skillset Wednesday, holding the Twins to four hits in a 2-0 victory. Verlander, 12-4, struck out nine. The guns opened up Wednesday, but Houston had the bigger ones, winning 13-8. Substitute outfielder Kyle Tucker enjoyed his rare day in the spotlight, homering twice, doubling and driving in six runs against Kenta Maeda and three relievers. The Astros kayoed Maeda with a six-run first inning, allowing Zack Greinke to coast to his 10th victory against three defeats.
In other mid-week AL action, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles split a four-game series at Yankee Stadium, Oakland took two of three from the Rays, and the Chicago White Sox won three of four from the visiting Detroit Tigers.
The Boston Red Sox won two of three from the Los Angeles Angels, and the Texas Rangers swept Seattle. In other inter-league games, the Toronto Blue Jays swept Milwaukee to pick up ground in the AL East and the Colorado Rockies took two of three from the Kansas City Royals.