May 19: Cubs @ Phillies WPA Recap (Game 41)

Charts and data from Fangraphs

Cubs' MVP: Tom Gorzelanny (.400 WPA)
Gorzo was ridiculously good tonight, throwing 6.2 innings and only allowing five baserunners. He also struck out five. It was the best individual WPA outing by a Cubs' pitcher this season. He had to leave in the seventh inning after getting nailed by a Carlos Ruiz line drive, but apparently x-rays were negative.

Phillies' MVP: Chase Utley (.101 WPA)
Utley walked and singled late in the game, going 1-3 overall. Honorable mention to The Ageless Wonder Jamie Moyer, who threw a pretty good game (.126 WPA) but nearly negated all of it at the plate by striking out with the bases loaded to end the second inning.

Cubs' LVP: Aramis Ramirez (-.097 WPA)
Aramis' offensive struggles continue with an 0-4 night and two strikeouts.

Phillies' LVP: Jayson Werth (-.234 WPA)
Did not see this one coming. Werth has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season, posting a .452 wOBA up to this point. But tonight, he was more like Jayson Werth-LESS. (Ha!) Werth went 0-4 and ended two innings with runners in scoring position. He also struck out twice.

Biggest Hit of the Game: It's a tie! Xavier Nady's two run single in the ninth and Jeff Baker's RBI single in the seventh were both worth .121 WPA.

Biggest Out of the Game: With two outs and a man on second in the bottom of the eighth, Jayson Werth grounds out to shortstop; -.101 WPA


Most Impressive Throw By A 20 Year Old Shortstop: