Toronto Blue Jays series simulation: White Sox 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.

For the second time this season, the Jays face the White Sox although the Southsiders head north of the border.

How Statis Pro Works

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 85

Starting pitchers 

Blue Jays: Tanner Roark
White Sox: Lucas Giolito

Lineups 

White Sox

Anderson SS
Moncada 3B
Abreu 1B
Encarnacion DH
Grandal C
Jimenez LF
Garcia 2B
Mazara RF
Engel CF

Blue Jays

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

Game recap

Our old friend Edwin Encarnacion flew the parrot around the bases as he hit a two-run shot in the first. In the bottom of the 3rd, Tellez and Grichuk came up to the plate with the bases loaded but neither could cash the runners in. In the 5th, Garcia was trying to score on a single from Moncada but was thrown out at home by Alford. With two outs in the 7th, Bichette made an error on a ground ball off the bat of Moncada, which was costly as Abreu ended up hitting a home run. The Jays had a little rally going in the 9th but ultimately couldn’t tie things up.

Final score: White Sox 4 Blue Jays 2

Key stats (White Sox)

Giolito: 8.1IP 11K 7H 1BB 1ER W

Moncada: 2 for 4 with a walk

Abreu: 1 for 4 with a HR and a walk

Encarnacion: 1 for 4 with a HR

Grandal: 2 for 4

Engel: 3 for 4 with a double

Key stats (Blue Jays)

Roark: 5IP 3K 7H 2BB 2ER 1HR L

Tellez: 2 for 4

Guerrero Jr: 2 for 4 with 2 doubles

Game 86 

Starting pitchers 

Blue Jays: Matt Shoemaker
White Sox: Dallas Keuchel

Lineups 

White Sox

Anderson SS
Moncada 3B
Abreu 1B
Encarnacion DH
Jimenez LF
McCann C
Mazara RF
Garcia 2B
Engel CF

Blue Jays

Alford CF
Panik 2B
Bichette SS
Tellez 1B
Guerrero Jr 3B
Grichuk RF
Drury DH
Hernandez LF
Jansen C

Game recap

Alford was back to his old tricks as he led off the bottom of the first with a home run. That wasn’t all though as Bichette also went yard in the first, and Grichuk added a solo shot in the 4th. The White Sox had a huge 5th inning as they scored five runs, as Anderson hit a bases clearing double and Abreu went yard for the second game in a row.

Final score: White Sox 5 Blue Jays 3

Key stats (White Sox)

Abreu: 1 for 3 with a HR and a walk

Engel: 1 for 2 with a double and a walk

Key stats (Blue Jays)

Shoemaker: 6IP 6K 3H 4BB 5ER 1HR L

Alford: 1 for 4 with a HR

Bichette: 1 for 4 with a HR

Grichuk: 2 for 4 with a HR

Game 87 

Starting pitchers 

Blue Jays: Chase Anderson
White Sox: Gio Gonzalez

Lineups 

White Sox

Anderson SS
Moncada 3B
Abreu 1B
Encarnacion DH
Grandal C
Jimenez LF
Mazara RF
Garcia 2B
Engel CF

Blue Jays

Alford CF
Drury 2B
Bichette SS
Tellez 1B
Guerrero Jr 3B
Grichuk RF
Hernandez LF
McGuire C
Davis DH

Game recap

In the 3rd, Mazara rounded third to try and score, but was thrown out at the plate by Alford. In the bottom of the 4th, McGuire scored on a single by Drury.

Like the game before, the White Sox had a huge 5th inning as they batted all around and scored five runs, four of them off a grand slam from Anderson. In the 7th, Hernandez hit a solo shot. In the 8th with two outs, Guerrero Jr. made an error which proved to be costly as Mazara hit a 3-run shot. In the bottom half of the inning, a two-run homer came from Tellez. In the top of the 9th to add to the White Sox lead, Anderson hit a solo shot.

Final score: White Sox 9 Blue Jays 4

Key stats (White Sox)

Gonzalez: 9IP 9K 6H 2BB 4ER 2HR CG W

Anderson: 3 for 5 with 2 HR

Mazara: 4 for 4 with a double and a HR

Key stats (Blue Jays)

Anderson: 4.1IP 9K 6H 2BB 5ER 1HR L

Drury: 2 for 4

Tellez: 1 for 3 with a HR and a walk

Hernandez: 1 for 4 with a HR

McGuire: 2 for 4

Blue Jays simulation record: 48-39