Toronto Blue Jays series simulation: Tigers vs. Jays

With the season on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m doing a simulation based on the Blue Jays schedule using the online version of Statis Pro.

For those of you that follow Mike Wilner on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed the simulated season he’s been doing. What he’s been up to lately is very similar to what I’m doing, just that we’re using different games to do it. I have also made an account for the simulations on Instagram that can be followed @jays.simgames.

The Jays embark on a quick road trip just across the border to Michigan to face the Tigers.

How Statis Pro Works 

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Just like a real ball game, you set your lineup by choosing each player’s spot in the batting order, and everything else that comes with managing a ball game. Basically you are the manager.

To play, you have cards that you go through that have a bunch of information on them. Each pitcher has a PB number with the lowest number starting at 2, and the highest number going at 9. For example, Hyun-Jin Ryu has a PB of 2-9 so if you flip a card with a PB of 7, you go based off the stats on his card. If you flip a card and get a PB of 11, you go based on the stats of the batter’s card.

After you flip the first card, you have to flip another card to determine the random number. Let’s say you get the first card of a PB 7 with Ryu pitching and the random number is 38. Ryu’s card may have a strikeout from the numbers 22-46, meaning if you get a PB 7 and a random number of 38, Ryu struck out whoever he faced.

Let’s say Ryu is pitching and he’s facing J.D. Martinez of the Red Sox. You flip the first card and get a PB of 10 and you flip the next card and get a random number of 26. Martinez’s card may have a double to centrefield as 24-26, meaning if you get a PB of 10 and a random number of 26, Martinez got a double off Ryu.

A few things to take into consideration with a simulated season:

• No trades
• No injuries for other teams unless it’s during the series against the Jays
• No prospects can be called up
• No standings to determine records of other teams in the league

Game 70

Starting pitchers

Blue Jays: Tanner Roark
Tigers: Ivan Nova

Starting Lineups 

Blue Jays

Bichette SS
Panik 2B
Grichuk RF
Tellez 1B
Hernandez LF
Shaw 3B
Jansen C
McKinney DH
Alford CF

Tigers

Maybin CF
Schoop 2B
Cabrera DH
Cron 1B
Demeritte RF
Stewart LF
Lugo 3B
Romine C
Mercer SS

Game recap

Tellez hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and in the bottom half Maybin started it off with a homer to answer back. In the 6th inning, Shaw hit a bases loaded double that scored Panik and Tellez to give the Blue Jays a lead, and during the next inning, Grichuk doubled home Bichette.

In the 8th, Cron hit a solo homer to cut into the Blue Jays’ lead. With two outs in the 9th and runners on first and second, Maybin hit a double that brought both runners home. This got Giles pulled in favour of Dolis, who got Schoop to fly out to left field to end the game.

Final score: Blue Jays 5 Tigers 4

Key stats (Blue Jays)

Giles: 0.2IP 0K 3H 0BB 2ER

Tellez: 2 for 4 with a HR

Shaw: 1 for 3 with a double and a walk

Key stats (Tigers)

Bryan Garcia: 3.2IP 7K 2H 2BB 1ER

Maybin: 2 for 4 with a HR, double and a walk

Cabrera: 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts and a walk

Cron: 1 for 4 with a HR

Demeritte: 2 for 4

Romine: 2 for 4

Game 71

Starting pitchers

Blue Jays: Matt Shoemaker
Tigers: Daniel Norris

Lineups 

Blue Jays

Bichette SS
Hernandez LF
Grichuk RF
Tellez 1B
McGuire C
Drury 3B
Tejada 2B
McKinney DH
Davis CF

Tigers

Maybin CF
Schoop 2B
Cabrera DH
Cron 1B
Candelario 3B
Stewart LF
Mercer SS
Demeritte RF
Greiner C

Game recap

In the 4th, McKinney had the bases loaded with two outs, but struck out to end the frame. No runs were scored until the 6th inning when Tellez hit a solo home run. The Jays put up another two runs in the 6th as well. They scored a run in the 7th too, but it could have been two more if Drury didn’t get thrown out at the plate by Maybin.

In the bottom of the 7th, Demeritte hit a two-run home run and Schoop later singled home Greiner. Giles got the first two guys in the ninth, but chaos ensued after when Maybin hit a double with two outs, which was followed by three consecutive hits and Cron getting the walk-off.

Final score: Tigers 5 Blue Jays 4

Key stats (Tigers)

Schoop: 3 for 5

Cron: 3 for 5 with a double

Demeritte: 1 for 3 with a HR and a walk

Key stats (Blue Jays)

Yamaguchi: 1IP 0K 3H 0BB 2ER 1HR

Giles: 0.2IP 1K 4H 0BB 2ER BSV L

Grichuk: 2 for 4 with a HBP

Tellez: 1 for 4 with a HR and a walk

Drury: 3 for 4 with a double and a walk

Tejada: 0 for 1 with 4 HBP

Davis: 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts and a walk

Game 72 

Starting pitchers

Blue Jays: Chase Anderson
Tigers: Matt Boyd

Lineups 

Blue Jays

Alford CF
Panik 2B
Grichuk RF
Tellez 1B
Hernandez LF
Shaw 3B
Jansen C
McKinney DH
Tejada SS

Tigers

Maybin CF
Schoop 2B
Cabrera DH
Cron 1B
Stewart LF
Demerrite RF
Goodrum SS
Lugo 3B
Romine C

Game recap

Grichuk hit a home run in the opening frame to give the Jays a 1-0 lead, but it was quickly tied up as Maybin scored in the bottom half of the inning. In the 2nd, Lugo and Romine hit back-to-back doubles and both of them ended up coming home to score in the frame. In the second time through the Jays order, Boyd struck out everyone. With two outs in the top of the 8th, Alford hit a home run. The Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the 8th as well.

Final score: Tigers 4 Blue Jays 2

Key stats (Tigers)

Maybin: 2 for 3 with a double and a walk

Cron: 2 for 4

Demeritte: 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts

Lugo: 1 for 3 with a double

Romine: 1 for 3 with a double

Key stats (Blue Jays)

Alford: 1 for 4 with a HR

Panik: 2 for 4

Grichuk: 1 for 4 with a HR

McKinney: 2 for 3

Blue Jays simulation record: 42-30