2020 MLB Season: Simulating AL games, the second half
By Bill Felber
In this 2020 MLB season simulation, between August 1-31, the Twins take off.
The Minnesota Twins blitzed through a 20-6 month to pass Cleveland and assume control of the AL Central. The Twins ran off a nine-game winning streak from Aug. 1-9 to take over first place by four games and still led by two at month’s end.
Boston rolled blissfully through the AL East, compiling a 17-9 record for the month while its divisional challengers all struggled to beat .500.
It was the same story in the AL West, where the Astros began to build post-season momentum with a 17-10 month. The finished August with a 19 and one-half game lead over runner-up Los Angeles, the Angels having overtaken Oakland and moved into wild-card contention.
Cleveland had a decided upper hand in that wild card race with an 89-46 record that was 19 and one-half games better than the Angels. They in turn led the White Sox by a half-game for the second wild-card slot.
Related Story. 2020 MLB Season: Simulating NL games, July 3-5. light
Standings on August 31
AL East W-L Pct GB
Boston Red Sox 81-57 .587 —
New York Yankees 70-69 .504 11.5
Tampa Bay Rays 68-69 .496 12.5
Toronto Blue Jays 65-74 .467 16.5
Baltimore Orioles 51-88 .367 30.5
AL Central W-L Pct GB
Minnesota Twins 92-45 .672 —
Cleveland Indians 89-46 .664 2
Chicago White Sox 70-67 .511 22
Detroit Tigers 50-86 .368 41.5
Kansas City Royals 50-89 .360 43
AL West W-L Pct GB
Houston Astros 89-47 .654 —
Los Angeles Angels 70-66 .515 19
Oakland Athletics 68-68 .500 21
Texas Rangers 67-69 .493 22
Seattle Mariners 50-88 .362 40