Cincinnati Reds 7, Toronto Blue Jays 2 in Strat-O-Matic 2020 simulated season game 4

Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer in the first inning sparked the Cincinnati Reds (2-2) offense to convincing 7-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays (0-5) in the opener of a three-game series at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

That was the result today as Strat-O-Matic games of Glen Head, N.Y., continued its announced plan to simulate the entire 2020 Major League Baseball season on a day-by-day basis for as long as actual game play is on hold.

With one out in the first inning, Joey Votto coaxed a walk against Toronto right-handed starting pitcher Trent Thornton. Suarez followed with his second home run of the young season, and the Reds never trailed thereafter. Four Reds recorded two hits each, including three free-agent newcomers: Mike Moustakas, Nick Castellanos and Shogo Akiyama. Tucker Barnhart also hit safely twice. Jesse Winker hit a two-run home run.

Anthony DeSclafani pitched the first five innings, limiting the Blue Jays to a run on seven hits and four walks. He pitched out of trouble on numerous occasions, as Toronto stranded 11 runners on base in the game. Tyler Mahle allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings in relief of DeSclafani, and Lucas Sims and Cody Reed shut the home team out the rest of the way.

Here is the box score, as provided by Strat-O-Matic:

• A-Subbed Defensively (LF) For Winker In 8th Inning

• B-Pinch Hit For Panik In 9th Inning

Strat-O-Matic has been in the sports simulation business since the 1960s. A USA Today article contained this explanation:

Strat-O-Matic and other baseball simulations use statistics from the previous season to create “cards” for each player on a roster. The team managers select the batting order and the starting pitcher. From there, a series of dice rolls and calculations determines the outcome of each at-bat.

Strat-O, as it’s known to longtime players, first gained its immense popularity as a board game. The company has since expanded to a downloadable Windows version and one that’s played online. A few years ago, it introduced Baseball Daily – a new iteration that combined the player cards from the previous season with statistics from the real season being played at the same time.

Unlike many video games, the Strat-O-Matic results are based on algorithms that account for players’ actual past performance. It’s not a game played with a joystick that relies more on the skill of the person with the video game controller in his or her hand.

The simulation software will keep comprehensive statistics for all teams for the season, so we’ll be able to track year-to-date leaders in many statistical categories. Our current plan is to provide statistical leader summaries here at Redleg Nation each Sunday. You can follow the season at Strat-O-Matic.com, where they plan to post the results from each day’s schedule at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

Standings following the March 30th games:

If you have not seen it yet, please check out Wesley Jenkins’ randomized simulation initiative. This will be coming out once a week, starting on Thursday.

The 2020 schedule as currently constituted has the Reds playing the middle game of the three-game series against Toronto on Tuesday.