OOTP21 Miami Marlins 2020 Season Simulation: Week Four

Throughout this miserable COVID-19 induced work stoppage, we’re going to be simulating the 2020 season.

We’ll be simulating the Miami Marlins in particular, using the brand new OOTP 21.

April 16th

The 7-12 Miami Marlins take the day off in preparation for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils dropped the Marlins in four straight to start the season.

April 17th

Phillies 6, Marlins 5, 15 innings

It took 15 innings, but the Phillies defeated the Marlins for the fifth time this season without taking a loss. The Miami Marlins struck out 23 times, which wouldn’t be so bad—but I was envisioning this in real life. Phillies pitcher strikes out the side in the top of the 11th. In the bottom half, Ryne Stanek walks the bases full. Repeat.

Caleb Smith gave up four runs in three innings then was relieved early in favor of the entire Marlins bullpen. All eight relievers played, including Alex Vesia in his major league debut. He struck out one and walked two in 1 2/3 innings, also giving up a hit. That’s not at all what we’ll be expecting from Vesia irl, js.

Miguel Rojas stole his team-leading fourth base of the season, and Jorge Alfaro smacked his second home run. Brian Anderson “led” the Marlins with five strikeouts. Newly acquired Aaron Loup took the loss in the bottom of the 15th, allowing a walk and three hits to include the walkoff.

Post-Game Transactions

Jose Urena was optioned to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp following the game to work on some mechanics.

April 18th

Phillies 10, Marlins 5

Same story, different day for the Marlins when facing these digital Phillies. Sandy Alcantara lost his fifth game in five starts, allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings on nine hits and two walks. He allowed four home runs and didn’t strike anyone out, finishing with a GameScore of 14, with an 11.78 ERA for the year.

Trailing 6-1 for much of the game, the Marlins chipped away at the Phillies lead, with one in the fifth, two in the sixth, and another in the eighth to get within a run. Tommy Eveld surrendered a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth, to put the final kibosh on any comeback hopes.

Miguel Rojas hit a single and a homer, his first of the season. Brian Anderson hit a single and a triple. Corey Dickerson and Jonathan Villar both contributed a pair of singles to the losing cause.

Post-Game Transactions

The Miami Marlins called up Sixto Sanchez & Dylan Lee, sending Tommy Eveld and Alex Vesia down to the Triple-A Wind Surge.

April 19th

Marlins 5, Phillies 2

Apparently, the seventh time was the charm for this version of the Miami Marlins when it came to their foes of Brotherly Love. Trevor Rogers worked his record to 2-0 with five K’s in 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks. He also collected his first career base hit. According to the pretend-digital-Miami Herald:

"If we play like this, we can win a lot of games. – Rogers"

Jonathan Villar hit his second home run of the year, and Jorge Alfaro clobbered his third. Villar added a single, and Matt Joyce also hit safely twice for the Marlins. Jon Berti stole his second base of the season.

Post-Game Transactions

Tommy Eveld and Jordan Yamamoto rejoined the Marlins. In their place with the Surge are now Sixto Sanchez and Dylan Lee. In other news, Charlie Blackmon suffered a season-ending concussion, Justin Upton hit his 300th career home run, and Joey Votto won the National League Player of the Week.

April 20th

Another off-day as the Marlins prepare to take on the New York Mets. Of particular interest will be how newly signed free agent pitcher Matt Harvey does against his former team.

April 21st

Marlins 2, Mets 1

Pablo Lopez allowed one run on five hits and no walks over six innings to earn his second victory of the year. Drew Steckenrider struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning for his fifth save. Corey Dickerson was two-for-two with a double and an RBI, and Brian Anderson collected the other RBI with a single. Miguel Rojas also collected multiple hits in the game, going two-for-four to raise his early-season average to .235.

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April 22nd

Mets 7, Marlins 5

The Miami Marlins squandered a four-hit day from Brian Anderson to drop to 9-15 for the season. Anderson hit two singles, a double, and a triple with an RBI. Miguel Rojas was two-for-four with a pair of RBI, and Jonathan Villar also finished with a pair of hits.

Matt Harvey earned no-decision in his first game against the New York Mets since leaving them. He allowed two walks and six hits over four innings for four runs. The Marlins managed to hold onto the lead until the seventh inning when Pete Alonso hit a solo shot off Ryne Stanek to tie it at five. The Mets scored two in the eighth to take the lead.

The Marlins will close their series with the Mets tomorrow (April 23rd). They’ll then face the Cardinals for three games in St. Louis and follow that with a return home to play the Mets in another three-game series.

Tune in tomorrow to find out how the Marlins are doing in some other dimension, and thanks for reading.