The Nationals pitching staff was stellar in 2019, helping them to the first World Series title in franchise history.

In our 2020 season simulation on MLB The Show 20, the Cubs are getting a firsthand look at just how tough that staff is. They dropped the second game of a four-game series in the nation’s capital Friday, 4-0. In two games against the Nationals, the Cubs have mustered just 2 runs on 8 hits.

Those offensive struggles have come against the Nationals’ third and fourth starters, too. After struggling to get much going against Austin Voth on Thursday, the Cubs couldn’t solve Aníbal Sánchez, who pitched 7.1 innings, allowing just 3 hits.

Juan Soto got the Nationals on the board in the 1st inning, hitting a soft single to right field off Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood that scored the speedy Trea Turner. The young Soto went 1-for-3 with a walk and his 10th RBI of the season.

The Nationals continued to find success off Chatwood. After an RBI bloop single from Howie Kendrick, Eric Thames drove him in with a two-out, 2-run blast to right field that made it 4-0.

It was Chatwood’s 70th pitch of the game, but David Ross kept him in to finish the inning. He permitted a double to former Cub Starlin Castro, but induced a Ryan Zimmerman flyball to end the inning. It would be the end of Chatwood’s day, who allowed 6 hits and a walk while striking out 4 in 3 innings of work.

Chatwood is the only Cubs starter who has yet to record a quality start. He is 1-2 with a 3.62 ERA in 4 starts on the season.

Offensively, the Cubs had a few threats. In the 4th, Anthony Rizzo doubled, but the Cubs couldn’t bring him in. David Bote led off the 8th inning with a double, but Hernán Pérez flew out, Kris Bryant struck out and Rizzo flew out to kill the threat.

The Cubs will look to avoid the series loss Saturday at 1 p.m. on our Facebook page, @WatchMarquee. Kyle Hendricks will oppose Joe Ross in the third game of the series.

Here’s how the teams lined up:

Cubs

Kris Bryant – 3B
Anthony Rizzo – 1B
Javy Báez – SS
Kyle Schwarber – LF
Victor Caratini – C
Jason Heyward – RF
Ian Happ – CF
David Bote – 2B
Tyler Chatwood – P

Nationals

Trea Turner – SS
Adam Eaton – CF
Howie Kendrick – 2B
Juan Soto – LF
Eric Thames – RF
Starlin Castro – 3B
Ryan Zimmerman – 1B
Yan Gomes – C
Aníbal Sánchez – P

Watch the full game here: