Simulating the Dodgers’ 2020 season: Game 48 vs. Phillies

This is the 36th 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!

Last time out, we split the first two games of a three-game home stretch against the Phillies. Dennis Santana made his first major league start and got handed a loss, while Alex Wood returned from injury for his fifth win of the year.

This time, Walker Buehler (1-5, 4.07 ERA) will go up against Nick Pivetta (1-3, 4.50 ERA) in the rubber match of the series.

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 managerial decisions, follow me on Twitch!

Pivetta had a rough time of it for the Phillies. Sure, he struck out three batters in the first. He also gave up three home runs in the inning — one to Mookie Betts, one to Justin Turner, and one to A.J. Pollock as the Dodgers took an early 5-0 lead.

That would set the tone for the rest of the game. Buehler turned in his most dominating performance yet, pitching eight innings and giving up two runs on three hits, with 13 strikeouts against one walk. Those three hits? Back-to-back solo home runs by Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius in the sixth, and a groundball single by J.T. Realmuto in the seventh.

Will Smith hit his fifth home run of the season in the fourth inning, and nearly the entire Dodger offense got in on the fun. Turner went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs, and the Dodgers’ 10 runs were spread out among seven players.

One bit of bad news: for the second time this season, Corey Seager got injured sliding into second on a double. This time, it’s a thumb contusion, and he will miss the next series against Cleveland. He should be back in time for the following series against Colorado, however.

Here’s the box score:

Next time: Game one against Cleveland, as David Price (7-1, 3.64 ERA) looks to take sole possession atop the major league win leaderboard up against Mike Clevinger (2-2, 1.77 ERA).