Simulating the Dodgers’ 2020 season: Games 56, 57, 58 vs. Mets

This is the 40th 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!

Welcome back! Last time out, we managed just one measly win at Coors Field. This time, we have Cody Bellinger back as we take on the Mets in New York.

We’re getting closer and closer to Clayton Kershaw’s return date, too — he’s scheduled back next week.

The projected pitching matchups for this one:

• Ross Stripling (1-2, 3.23 ERA) vs. Noah Syndergaard (3-4, 2.63 ERA)
• Alex Wood (5-3, 2.88 ERA) vs. David Peterson (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
• Walker Buehler (2-6, 4.73 ERA) vs. Steven Matz (5-3, 2.31 ERA)

Watch 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!

We had a feeling the first game of this series would be a little lopsided, with the pitching matchup of Syndergaard vs. Stripling. It ended up even more so than we expected.

Stripling started the game by retiring the Mets in order the first time through the rotation, and the game was 0-0 through three innings. Corey Seager put the Dodgers on the board with his 11th home run of the season in the fourth, but things quickly fell apart.

Stripling gave up five runs in the bottom of the fourth, and that was that. Dennis Santana came in to relieve him in the sixth, giving up three hits and a walk before being pulled without an out recorded, and the final score was 9-1 Mets.

Here’s the box score:

Game two saw both starting pitchers leave the game early, for different reasons. Mets starter David Peterson left the game just four pitches in with an injury.

Alex Wood, on the other hand, had quite the time of it. After giving up a three-run home run to Alonso in the bottom of the third, Wood was ejected in the bottom of the third after he hit Michael Conforto with a pitch. The benches cleared, a brawl ignited, and when the dust settled, both Wood and Conforto were ejected and suspended.

Despite the Mets having to use their bullpen for all 27 outs, the Dodgers bats were not able to muster much of anything. The offense mustered just four hits (all singles) and three walks, and lost this one 3-0.

Here’s the box score:

Game three was the closest yet, but to spare you the heartbreak we felt in real time: it was not enough.

Walker Buehler once again got into trouble early, giving up two runs in both the second and third innings, but recovered and finished the day with six innings pitched and ten strikeouts against one walk, leaving the game with the Dodgers trailing 4-2.

The Dodgers still trailed 4-2 in the top of the ninth, but their bats finally awoke. Corey Seager led off the inning with his second home run of the series, and two batters later Gavin Lux hit a solo home run to tie the game.

After scoreless 10th, 11th and 12th innings for both teams, the Dodgers took the lead in the 13th. Cody Bellinger led off with a walk, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Joc Pederson drove him in with an RBI single, making the score 5-4 Dodgers.

With a depleted bullpen, we brought in Caleb Ferguson to face the lefties of Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeill. Ferguson walked Nimmo and hit McNeill with a pitch, bringing up Pete Alonso. Ferguson struck out Alonso, but gave up a single to J.D. Davis, loading the bases and causing us to bring in Pedro Baez to try and get out of the inning. Wilson Ramos hit a sac fly to right, scoring Nimmo, and after an infield single by Jake Marisnick loaded the bases, Baez walked Guillorme for the walk-off Mets win, clinching the sweep.

Here’s the box score:

So, yeah, quite the disappointing time of it. The Dodgers lose six of seven games to finish out the month of May, and while we’re still in first place in the NL West (by a half-game over the Diamondbacks), the Reds have now surpassed us for the best record in the National League.

Next up: we return home to Dodger stadium, where hopefully better results await us. First will be three games against Atlanta, followed by four against the Rockies. See you then!