Gavin Lux and Ty Buttrey to take part in ‘MLB The Show 20’ video game tournament
Gavin Lux is considered one of the top young players in the Dodgers organization and the team’s future in the middle infield.
He also could be the Dodgers’ only chance at winning a World Series in 2020.
With the Major League Baseball season postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic, the league, its players’ association and Sony Interactive Entertainment announced Friday a tournament that features one player from each MLB team playing in the “MLB The Show 20” video game.
The format is similar to a typical baseball season. The 30 players will face one another one time each for a total of 29 regular-season games. The top eight advance to a postseason that mirrors the MLB format and culminates in a World Series.
Would bringing back MLB amid the coronavirus crisis be a morale boost for a quarantined nation or an audacious grab of medical resources? Or both?
Lux is representing the Dodgers. He responded to Friday‘s announcement by immediately talking good-natured trash toward Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Cole Tucker, who will be playing for his team in the tournament.
“Give me @cotuck week one,” Lux tweeted, along with a laughing emoji.
One Twitter user responded to Lux’s tweet with an interesting question — who will be the opening day starter? Longtime ace Clayton Kershaw got the nod from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts for the real-life game that may never happen, but Walker Buehler is a rising star on the mound.
Lux has yet to respond to the query.
Relief pitcher Ty Buttrey is the Angels’ representative in the tournament, which begins April 10 when Blake Snell (Tampa Bay Rays) plays Amir Garrett (Cincinnati Reds) at 6 p.m. PT. The games will be streamed on a variety of digital platforms, including Twitch and YouTube.
Buttrey discussed his gaming strategy Friday on KSPN 710.
“I’m gonna bank on [Mike] Trout and [Anthony] Rendon,” Buttrey said. “We got a pretty good lineup that’s going to go out there and smack some balls around. So I’m hoping those guys carry me.”
As far as pitching goes, he said, “Shohei Ohtani for me is going to be throwing all three innings … [Julio] Teheran and [Dylan] Bundy may make an appearance out of the bullpen.”
So no appearances by virtual Buttrey?
“My guy’s an overall 75,” the real-life Buttrey said. “I don’t need my guy in there. I want the best possible team. I want the highest number.”
“MLB The Show” league participants
Angels — Ty Buttrey
Dodgers — Gavin Lux
Arizona Diamondbacks — Jon Duplantier
Atlanta Braves — Luke Jackson
Baltimore Orioles — Dwight Smith Jr.
Boston Red Sox — Eduardo Rodriguez
Chicago Cubs — Ian Happ
Chicago White Sox — Lucas Giolito
Cincinnati Reds — Amir Garrett
Cleveland Indians — Carlos Santana
Colorado Rockies — David Dahl
Detroit Tigers — Niko Goodrum
Houston Astros — Lance McCullers Jr.
Kansas City Royals — Brett Phillips
Miami Marlins — Ryne Stanek
Milwaukee Brewers — Josh Hader
Minnesota Twins — Trevor May
New York Mets — Jeff McNeil
New York Yankees — Tommy Kahnle
Oakland Athletics — Jesús Luzardo
Philadelphia Phillies — Rhys Hoskins
Pittsburgh Pirates — Cole Tucker
San Diego Padres — Fernando Tatis Jr.
San Francisco Giants — Hunter Pence
Seattle Mariners — Carl Edwards Jr.
St. Louis Cardinals — Matt Carpenter
Tampa Bay Rays — Blake Snell
Texas Rangers — Joey Gallo
Toronto Blue Jays — Bo Bichette
Washington Nationals — Juan Soto
Times staff writer Maria Torres contributed to this report.
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