Simulating the Dodgers’ 2020 season: Game 35 vs. Cubs

This is the 27th 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! Last time out, we made some lineup tweaks and won a dramatic opener against the Cubs to start a three-game series. This time, we’ve got Ross Stripling (1-1, 3.57 ERA) going up against Kyle Hendricks (1-3, 3.35 ERA) as we try to clinch a series win.

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!

The Dodgers took an early lead in the bottom of the first, when Mookie Betts led off with a walk and Max Muncy hit a home run the other way to left field, opening up a 2-0 lead.

Ross Stripling pitched a good game, but got into some trouble early — just not too much trouble. In each of the first four innings, he gave up exactly one hit. This only resulted in one run, though — Kris Bryant doubled to open the second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

Stripling retired the side in both the fifth and sixth innings, ending the day with a 2-1 lead after six innings pitched, one run allowed, four hits allowed and eight strikeouts with no walks. We brought in Jimmy Nelson to pitch the seventh and maintain that lead, but the righty gave up a 414-foot blast Victor Caratini, blowing the lead and tying the game 2-2.

No worries, though: the Dodger bats were on the case. The team combined for seven runs in the next two innings: four in the seventh (a two-run Joc Pederson double to take the lead, a two-run Chris Taylor home run to break it open) and three in the eighth (an RBI double by Cody Bellinger, sac fly by Justin Turner, and an RBI single by Taylor).

That 9-3 lead was more than sufficient, as Nelson and Alexander finished out the game for the Dodgers on the mound and clinched the series win. Nelson gets credit for both his first blown save and his first win as a Dodger, while Alexander got his first save of the year.

On the offensive side of things, every Dodger starter (including Stripling) got at least one hit, and five had multi-hit days (led by Chris Taylor, who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs).

Here’s the box score:

Next time: Alex Wood (4-1, 1.86 ERA) looks to clinch the sweep against Jon Lester (4-2, 3.15 ERA). See you then!