Top Play (WPA): While the score did get close again late in the game, this always felt like one the Cubs were going to lose. A large part of that was that Tsuyoshi Wada was clearly not in top form tonight, and it showed. With two on and nobody out in the second inning, Miguel Montero called for an elevated fastball on a 2-2 count to Danny Espinosa, and instead, Wada did this:
Yes, that was an 89.7 mph fastball right down the heart of the plate. Predictably, Espinosa launched this offering past the bullpen in left field and into the seats, giving the Nat an early 3-0 lead (.139). Wada does not have much in the way of velocity, so he really relies on his location to get by; and tonight, he got hurt because his command was off.
Bottom Play (WPA): Home runs from Anthony Rizzo (.100) and Miguel Montero (.112) in the sixth brought the game within one run for the Cubs at 5-4. This was all the Cubs would get in the sixth, but after a two out Travis Wood single (.024) in the seventh, Addison Russell stepped to the plate with a chance to tie the game or even take the lead. Russell had a May line of .273/.321/.485, so Cubs fans have been feeling pretty good about having him come to the plate in crucial spots recently. However, no player can make it happen every time, and Russell is no exception. He flew out to end the inning (-.044), thus squandering the Cubs best chance to tie the game up.
Key Moment: The Cubs had gotten back into the game in the sixth inning, bringing the game to 5-4. The Cubs turned to the usually solid Justin Grimm in the bottom of the seventh with the heart of the Nationals order coming up. Things started out well enough, as Grimm got Ryan Zimmerman to ground out (-.017) and the slugging Bryce Harper to strike out (-.012). The recently-returned Anthony Rendon then singled (.009), and Wilson Ramos delivered a decisive blow with a double to right (.112), which scored Rendon and gave the Nationals a much-needed insurance run.
Trend to Watch: Zac Rosscup had a stretch from his first appearance on April 14 all the way through May 3 in which he allowed only one earned run. He was fantastic, posting a K/9 of 11.17 and a BB/9 of 0.93. He was suddenly becoming the lefty this team so desperately needed. However, over the last month, things have taken a sharp downward turn for Rosscup. His fastball is now getting very few whiffs, and he has suffered as a result. His K/9 has dropped by nearly three to 8.56 and his BB/9 are up as well, having ballooned to 3.15. Rosscup has been more problem than solution this last month, and while I hope he gets it together soon, I don’t believe the Cubs have the luxury of allowing him to figure it out in the majors.
Coming Next: The Cubs (28-25) look to rebound from Friday’s tough loss in Saturday’s third game of the series against the Nationals (30-25). The Cubs send out one of the National League’s best pitchers thus far in Jason Hammel (2.82 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 3.07 DRA), while the Nationals are throwing a young starter debuting direct from Double-A, Tyson Ross’s kid brother, Joe Ross (making his MLB Debut). Suffice it to say that I feel like this is one the Cubs should be able to win.
Lead photo courtesy Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports