St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Wil Myers have launched an iOS baseball game called Wil and Shelby’s Baseball Battle.
The gameplay appears reminiscent of classic 8- and 16-bit console baseball games, but it’s 2014 now so it allows you to log in via Facebook and challenge your friends. Most importantly, the game includes customizable equipment, stadiums, and characters, so you can play as an astronaut, a pirate or a caveman, among others.
After both players enjoyed stellar rookie seasons in 2013, neither Miller nor Myers has enjoyed as much success this season. Miller has struggled with control and seen his ERA jump over a run. Myers missed all of June and July with a wrist injury. Both could be classified as victims of the dreaded — if largely mythical — “sophomore slump,” but perhaps they just didn’t collect enough coins in their first years to earn power-ups for this season.
The game might present Miller’s safest option for regularly beating the pirates, as he’s 2-6 with a 4.98 ERA lifetime against Pittsburgh’s MLB club. In any case, both players should clearly try to incorporate the coonskin caps from their video game into everyday play.