This scatterplot maps out Championship Win Probability Added (cWPA) on the y-axis against ERA+ on the x-axis, providing a lens into ow Cardinals pitchers combined run prevention efficiency with high-leverage performance during the 2024 season. ERA+ is a park- and league-adjusted measure of earned run average, where a value of 100 represents league average and higher values indicate superior run prevention. Meanwhile, cWPA reflects the cumulative effect a pitcher had on increasing the team’s probability of winning the World Series by succeeding in crucial moments. The relationship between these two variables is statistically significant, with a p-value below 0.05, and a positive trendline suggesting that pitchers who were more effective at limiting runs also tended to deliver in high-stakes situations.
The color of each circle represents a pitcher’s strikeout-to-walk ratio (SO/BB), where green indicates a better ratio and thus stronger command. The size of each bubble corresponds to innings pitched, emphasizing the role workload plays in evaluating impact. Filters for ERA+, age, and pitcher role (starter, reliever, closer) allow for more specific comparisons across different types of contributors. The horizontal and vertical reference lines divide the graph into four quadrants. Pitchers in the top-right quadrant were both efficient and clutch, those in the bottom-right quadrant were effective overall but struggled in high-leverage moments, pitchers in the top-left quadrant were less consistent overall but came through under pressure, and those in the bottom-left quadrant struggled on both fronts.
Among the most notable performers is Ryan Helsley, whose outstanding ERA+ and top-tier cWPA place him far above his peers, indicating he consistently performed well and delivered in high-leverage innings. Another key figure is Sonny Gray, whose combination of high innings pitched, above-average ERA+, and positive cWPA marks him as one of the rotation’s most reliable assets. Together, these two examples help illustrate how ERA+ and cWPA offer a comprehensive story of value, capturing both consistency in run prevention and the ability to come through in the most impactful moments of the season.
The plot is best viewed in full screen for improved clarity and detail.
