Major League Baseball was supposed to launch the 2020 regular season seven weeks ago, on March 26. The spread of the novel coronavirus, however, forced MLB to delay Opening Day to some unknowable future date that is dependent on the effectiveness of the containment strategies imposed across the country in recent months and how negotiations go between the players union and the league.
Because we could all use a distraction these days, we've decided to pass time by simulating the season on Out of the Park Baseball 21. Along the way, we'll be providing updates on what's happening in our fictional league, similar to what we did on Opening Day.
With that in mind, here are the would-be standings and five developments to be mindful of from the week that was (and wasn't).
1. Nationals, Pirates pull off trade
There was a noteworthy trade in the league this week, as the Nationals acquired Chris Archer (and minor-league infielder Orlando Chivilli) from the Pirates in exchange for minor-league pitcher Seth Romero and Tanner Driskill. The Nationals evidently believe they can unlock the old Archer, because he isn't off to a great start to the season: he's entering his D.C. career with a 4.73 ERA.
2. Dodgers run winning streak to 15
Last week, we focused on how the Dodgers were on pace to win 130 games. They haven't lost since then. Rather, the Dodgers won every game they played this week to improve their winning streak to 15 games. They're now 35-7, or on pace for 135 wins. Mookie Betts is batting .337; Cody Bellinger has 14 home runs; Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, and Clayton Kershaw have ERAs under 2.60; and so on. The virtual Dodgers are absurdly good.
3. DeGrom out for five weeks
If you thought things couldn't get any worse for the last-place Mets ... well, here you are. Ace Jacob deGrom will miss the next five weeks due to a sore ankle. That's a tough development for a team that didn't need any. DeGrom had been arguably the brightest spot on the roster, posting a 1.51 ERA over his nine starts. The Mets have recalled prospect David Peterson to replace him in the rotation.
4. Longoria hits 300th home run
The Giants had a lot of fun playing against the Rockies in Coors Field, as you'll see below, but few members of San Francisco's lineup had more fun than third baseman Evan Longoria. That's because Longoria hit his 300th career home run as part of that series. He's off to a tremendous start this year, hitting .344/.402/.559 with four homers and 19 runs batted in.
5. Norris falls to 0-7
You have to feel a little bad for Tigers left-hander Daniel Norris. He leads the majors in losses, having fallen to 0-7 on the year this week. Norris hasn't pitched well overall, with a 5.66 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio under 2.00, but he's had some fair outings as of late. For example, he's permitted just eight runs in 21 2/3 innings over his last three times out -- that's good for a totally respectable 3.39 ERA. Nevertheless, it seems Norris will have to do even better to earn his first win of the year.
Hitting performance of the week
Giants first baseman Brandon Belt earns the honors this week by partaking in an offensive onslaught against the Rockies. The Giants won by a ridiculous 38-5 margin, setting an MLB record for most runs in a game in the process. Belt, for his part, went 4 for 4 with two home runs, five runs batted in, and six runs scored. He didn't make an out in nine trips to the plate, and that's because he drew five walks. Yes, five walks. Belt is now hitting .202/.358/.395 for the season.
Pitching performance of the week
Reds right-hander Luis Castillo has one of the nastiest changeups in baseball, and he used it to great effect against the Marlins. Castillo threw 8 2/3 shutout innings, sprinkling three hits and no walks and striking out 14 batters. Castillo now has a 3.38 ERA on the season to go with his 11.6 strikeouts per nine.
