If there was one pleasant surprise from the Cubs season simulation on MLB The Show 20, it had been the effectiveness of its bullpen.

Through 14 games, the Cubs pen was pitching to a 2.10 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 34.1 innings of work. The Cubs pen had allowed just 8 earned runs and were proving to be a strength for the team.

But the struggling Cardinals found a weakness in the Cubs pen. The Cardinals scored 6 runs on 9 hits against the Cubs bullpen, exploiting it again on Saturday en route a 6-4 win. The Cardinals, who were 1-12 heading into the series opener on Friday, scored 3 runs against the Cubs relievers on Friday.

On Saturday’s simulation, the brunt of the blow fell on Trevor Megill and Jeremy Jeffress. Entering Saturday’s game, Megill had pitched in one game, pitching the final four innings in Monday’s 19-3 blowout, allowing just 2 runs and striking out 3. Jeffress, meanwhile, had a 0.00 ERA with 3 strikeouts and a 0.60 WHIP.

The Cubs had to turn to the bullpen a little early on Saturday. Starter Tyler Chatwood pitched 4 innings, allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5, but had labored in those 4 innings, throwing 74 pitches.

Megill came into the game in the 5th inning with the Cubs holding a 3-0 lead on the heels of back-to-back home runs from Jason Heyward (2-run homer) and Ian Happ in the 4th. Lane Thomas cut the deficit to 1 on a solo home run, then the Cardinals added another pair of runs off Megill to tie the game. Alec Mills came in to get the final out of the inning and pitched a shutout 6th.

But the Cardinals offense hit its groove again, this time on Jeffress. Paul Goldschmidt laced an RBI single to center, giving the Cardinals the lead for good. The Cardinals added a pair of insurance runs off Kyle Ryan in the 8th inning.

Jason Kipnis hit his third homer of the season, a solo shot in the 9th with 2 outs.

The Cubs will look to avoid the sweep at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon on our Facebook page, @WatchMarquee. 

Here’s how the team’s lined up for the game:

Cubs

Kris Bryant – 3B
Anthony Rizzo – 1B
Javy Báez – SS
Kyle Schwarber – LF
Willson Contreras – C
Jason Heyward – RF
Ian Happ – CF
Jason Kipnis – 2B
Tyler Chatwood – P

Cardinals

Kolten Wong – 2B
Dexter Fowler – RF
Paul Goldschmidt – 1B
Matt Carpenter – 3B
Paul DeJong – SS
Yadier Molina – C
Tyler O’Neill – LF
Lane Thomas – CF
Daniel Ponce de Leon – P

Catch the full game here:

https://www.facebook.com/WatchMarquee/videos/703094903798026/