In this 2020 MLB season simulation, between August 1-31, a shakeup in the Central.
The NL Central contest was a four-way battle at the All-Star break, but it drastically re-formed in August.
The St. Louis Cardinals, who led Milwaukee by three games at the break, staggered through an 8-17 August that sank them to fourth place. The Brewers, 11-17 in August, fared little better, falling to third.
In their places, the Chicago Cubs rose to challenge the Cincinnati Reds for divisional primacy. The Cubs actually held a five-game lead on Aug. 22, but lost six of the last eight August games and dropped into a virtual tie with the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds took the other course, trailing the Cubs by five and one-half games on Aug. 22 and then winning eight of nine to draw even.
In the NL East, the Washington Nationals proved their mettle. The champs played 22-5 ball in August, with separate streaks of seven and six straight. That lifted the Nats within a half-game of the Phillies in the race for the second wild-card spot, and within two games of the Braves for the division lead.
Los Angeles and Arizona continued their season-long battle for supremacy in the West. The Dodgers opened up a two-game advantage on the eve of their mid-month series, but Arizona won two of those three games to draw within one again. They were never separated by more than a game and a half the rest of the month.
Standings on Aug. 31
NL East W-L Pct GB
Atlanta Braves 80-58 .580 —
Philadelphia Phillies 78-59 .569 1.5
Washington Nationals 78-60 .565 2
New York Mets 63-75 .456 17
Miami Marlins 56-81 .409 23.5
NL Central W-L Pct GB
Chicago Cubs 74-64 .536 —
Cincinnati Reds 75-65 .536 —
Milwaukee Brewers 69-69 .500 5
St. Louis Cardinals 68-70 .493 6
Pittsburgh Pirates 52-87 .374 22.5
NL West W-L Pct GB
Arizona Diamondbacks 87-53 .621 —
Los Angeles Dodgers 86-54 .614 1
San Diego Padres 67-71 .486 19
Colorado Rockies 61-78 .439 25.5
San Francisco Giants 43-95 .312 43