Simulating the Dodgers’ 2020 season: Game 16 vs. Nationals

This is the fourteenth installment of an ongoing series, where my dad and I will simulate each game on the Dodgers schedule until real Dodger baseball returns. Catch up on the rest of the series here! Thanks all for the comments and support!

Welcome back! After two exciting wins against the Nats, we’ll look for the series sweep today as Alex Wood (2-0, 1.47 ERA) goes up against Max Scherzer (1-2, 2.57 ERA).

A few lineup notes: both Will Smith and Justin Turner have scheduled days off, inserting Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor into the starting lineup. Corey Seager is back from his week-long absence with blurred vision. And we’re giving Mookie Betts the day off because of his struggles at the plate. Monday’s a day off, too, so hopefully he’ll come back against the Cardinals fully rested and ready to contribute.

It’s time for the game! Watch it here or scroll below to find out what happened. If you want to be notified when we go live with future simulations and chime in with your live feedback and/or input on manager decisions, follow me on Twitch!

This was a pitcher’s duel, as advertised. Neither Alex Wood nor Max Scherzer gave up a run in this one, mowing down hitters and barely allowing any base runners. Wood took a perfect game through six, and a no hitter through seven. Scherzer threw 6 ²⁄₃ scoreless, giving up four hits with eleven strikeouts against one walk.

Wood threw nine innings for the second time this season, leaving with two hits and nine strikeouts against one walk, but this time it was a no decision. The game remained tied 0-0 heading into the tenth, with just seven hits (all singles) between the two teams.

With a depleted bullpen, Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless tenth and returned for the 11th. He walked Starlin Castro to load up the inning, and then gave up a single to Trea Turner. Ryan Schimpf grounded into a double play, and we made the somewhat questionable decision to intentionally walk Adam Eaton, giving Scott Alexander more time to warm up and instead face Eric Thames.

Alexander walked Thames on a 3-2 count, bringing up Juana Soto with the bases loaded and two outs. Not exactly the situation we were looking for, and it wasn’t exactly the result we expected. Soto grounded to the right side, perfectly placed between Alexander and Gavin Lux that all runners advanced, taking a 1-0 lead on an infield single.

It was all down to the bottom of the 11th, with the heart of the order up for the Dodgers. Cody Bellinger flew out against Roenis Elias, but Corey Seager walked to put the tying runner on base. Sterling Sharp came in to pitch for the Nationals, forcing a grounder from A.J. Pollock, but a poor throw by Asdrubal Cabrera let both runners safely advance. However, Joc Pederson struck out and Gavin Lux grounded out, ending the game with a 1-0 Nationals win.

Here’s the box score:

So we drop to 13-3, still a half game ahead of the Astros for the best record in baseball and two and a half games ahead of the Diamondbacks in the NL West. The Dodgers have a day off tomorrow before a three-game home series against the Cardinals. First up: Walker Buehler (1-1, 1.50 ERA) against Carlos Martinez (2-0, 1.08 ERA), in a rematch of what was a bad time out for us against the Cardinals on Thursday. See you then!