Simulating the 2020 Marlins—Week 12

The 2020 Marlins regular season is off to a delayed start, but technology is a beautiful thing, ain’t it? Simulation games have created alternative universes in which this much-anticipated campaign is running precisely on schedule, featuring many of the players who were projected to make an impact for the real-life Fish.

At the end of each week, I will do a roundup of how the Marlins are performing.

Baseball-Reference

2020 season record: 30-41

Baseball-Reference is simulating the entire 2020 MLB schedule using the game Out of the Park Baseball 21 (OOTP 21). Results are published daily at around noon ET.

• June 9—Marlins 6, Angels 7
• June 10—Marlins 3, Angels 4
• June 12—Marlins 5, Giants 0
• June 13—Marlins 0, Giants 1
• June 14—Marlins 5, Giants 4

A series win over the Giants vaults the Marlins ahead of them in the National League standings.

Star shortstop Miguel Rojas continues to rank comfortably inside the NL’s top 10 qualifiers in Wins Above Replacement and batting average. Recent trade acquisition Braden Bishop is manning center field on a near-daily basis.

The Athletic Alternate Universe

2020 season record: 29-42

Just like Baseball-Reference, staff members at The Athletic are using OOTP 21. Editor Or Moyal is serving as general manager for the Marlins.

However, their simulation began after the MLB Opening Day date and they are moving at an accelerated pace. Results for the Marlins are already available through Aug. 26. For those who want to take a deep dive into the organization’s progress, TAAU also provides data for all Minor League Baseball affiliates.

• June 9—Marlins 4, Angels 3
• June 10—Marlins 0, Angels 3
• June 12—Marlins 0, Giants 4
• June 13—Marlins 5, Giants 0
• June 14—Marlins 3, Giants 2

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Elieser Hernandez has been the leader of the Marlins rotation thus far. He’s been especially hot lately, allowing only one run in 14 innings pitched over his last couple outings while striking out 17 batters.

Another pleasant surprise? Matt Kemp! Facing predominantly left-handed pitching, he’s slashing .286/.351/.557 with six homers in 77 plate appearances (team-leading .908 OPS). Making good on that minor league deal he signed and showing that there may be opportunities to extend his playing career beyond 2020.

Strat-O-Matic

2020 season record: 29-42

The Strat-O-Matic 2020 Season Simulation spits outs its daily details at 2 p.m. ET.

• June 9—Marlins 0, Angels 3
• June 10—Marlins 1, Angels 5
• June 12—Marlins 5, Giants 1
• June 13—Marlins 4, Giants 6
• June 14—Marlins 5, Giants 3

All-Star voting season is upon us! The following Marlins are listed on the National League ballot: C Jorge Alfaro, 1B Jesús Aguilar, 2B Isan Díaz, 3B Brian Anderson, SS Miguel Rojas, OF Corey Dickerson, OF Harold Ramirez and OF Jonathan Villar.

In real life, Marlins players rarely get elected as ASG starters. Fish Stripes wants to flip that script. Vote now and share with fellow Fish fans!

On the pitching side, Caleb Smith is a lock to get his first career selection. Nick Neidert hasn’t had enough time in The Show to build his own candidacy, but the right-hander is emerging as the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner, picking up the win on Friday and lowering his earned run average below 1.00. Drew Steckenrider continues his near-perfect performance out of the bullpen.

---

Next up

• June 16-18 at Phillies
• June 19-21 vs. Giants

(Week 13 will likely be the final installment of this article series, as MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is being pressured by the players’ union to finalize plans for the real 2020 season.)