Photo courtesy of Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports Top Play (WPA): Tsuyoshi Wada cruised through the first three innings of his 2015 debut, striking out eight of the first ten batters he faced while working quickly and efficiently. In the fourth, he served up a one out single to Derek Norris (.035), and the Padres’ most […]
Author: Zack Moser
Game 30 Recap: Brewers 3 Cubs 2
Photo courtesy of Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Top Play (WPA): New Brewers manager Craig Counsell summoned left-hander Will Smith for the eighth inning to face the top of the Cubs’ order. Dexter Fowler managed a single, and with two outs Anthony Rizzo stepped to the plate. Last season, Rizzo posted an impressive .928 OPS versus […]
Game 24: Cardinals 10, Cubs 9
Photo courtesy of Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports Top Play (WPA): Joe Maddon used five relievers in tonight’s game, and tapped Zac Rosscup in the pivotal seventh after Pedro Strop failed to record an out. With runners at the corners and one out, Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong looped Rosscup’s 84 mph slider over Starlin Castro’s […]
Game 16 Recap: Cubs 7 Reds 3
Photo courtesy of David Kohl/USA Today Sports Images Top Play (WPA): Having expended Aroldis Chapman in the ninth, Bryan F-bomb Price tapped Burke Badenhop for the 11th. On-base machines Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant each singled, bringing up Jonathan Herrera, who Joe Maddon had inserted via a double switch. The third baseman ripped a single […]
Game 10 Recap: Cubs 7 Padres 6
Top Play (WPA): The Cubs bullpen has exceeded even our admittedly lofty expectations going into this season. When the team’s starting pitching has allowed early runs, or when the bats have gone quiet, the ‘pen has done an exceptional job keeping the game within striking distance. Saturday’s biggest play, however, came at the expense of […]