Kid Kershaw

This was about as even of a game as you could get. Each team would quickly answer the other teams single run. Clayton Kershaw pitched well in his major league debut and managed a .110 WPA. The turning point of the game was when Dodger closer Takashi Saito induced Cardinal outfielder Skip Schumaker to fly out with runners on first and second with two outs and the score tied 3-3 in the top of the 9th inning. The Dodgers would end up winning the game in the bottom of the 10th inning on a walk off single by Andre Ethier that netted him .390 WPA on that one single play. The Dodgers managed to do slightly better than the Cardinals in higher than average leverage situations and that was the difference maker.



Win Expectancy Graph



Win Expectancy / Leverage Index (Game Landmarks)
1st Highest Game WPA: .414 - Andre Ethier
2nd Highest Game WPA: .286 - Takashi Saito
3rd Highest Game WPA: .224 - Russell Martin
Highest Dodgers LI at-bat: 3.86 - Andre Ethier, Bottom 10th, Single.
Highest Reds LI at-bat: 4.50 - Skip Schumaker, Top 9th, Fly Out.
Largest WPA Play: .390 - Andre Ethier, Bottom 10th, Single.
Largest Negative WPA Play: -.117 - Skip Schumaker, Bottom 9th, Fly Out.
80% WPA Threshold moment: Bottom 10th, Andre Ethier, Single (Win 4-3).
95% WPA Threshold moment: Bottom 10th, Andre Ethier, Single (Win 4-3).

Performance Under Pressure
Team	AB	Hits	HRs	Ave	OBP	SLG	OPS
Cardinals	26	7	0	.269	.296	.308	.604
Dodgers	22	7	0	.318	.318	.364	.682

Note: This study looks at all plate appearances in situations that have an above average leverage index (average is 1.00).