Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
Seattle at Cleveland | 19:05 ET
Felix Hernandez (158.1 IP, 62 xFIP-, 5.6 WAR) faces Corey Kluber (149.1 IP, 72 xFIP-, 4.3 WAR). The pair rank first and third, respectively, among all pitchers by WAR this season — the former on the strength largely of the league’s most valuable changeup by linear-weight runs; the latter, owing to a cutter and curveball which both rank among the top three in the league by runs according to their respective pitch type.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Cleveland Radio.

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Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
Washington at Miami | 19:10 ET
Stephen Strasburg (137.1 IP, 68 xFIP-, 3.0 WAR) faces Henderson Alvarez (130.2 IP, 95 xFIP-, 2.0 WAR). The latter, it would appear, is almost an exact replica of yesterday’s starter for Miami, Nathan Eovaldi. While neither have recorded particularly notable fielding-independent numbers, both have produced overall strike rates and average fastball velocities at least a standard deviation better than the average of all major-leaguer starters. In Alvarez’s case, those figures are as follows: 66.9% strikes and 93.6 mph. As for characterizing Strasburg’s virtues, one is reduced merely to the employment of tautology — to the extent, I mean, that Strasburg is what he is.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Washington Radio.

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Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
Washington at Miami | 19:10 ET
Jordan Zimmermann (118.0 IP, 84 xFIP-, 2.7 WAR) faces Nathan Eovaldi (130.2 IP, 108 xFIP-, 1.8 WAR). The virtues of the former are manifest. As for the latter, despite having posted merely average-ish fielding-independent numbers, he’s also recorded an overall strike rate (66.4%) and average fastball velocity (95.6 mph) one and two standard deviations, respectively, better than the mean produced by starting pitchers this season. A recipe, that, for tolerable baseball.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Washington Radio.

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Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
New York NL at Milwaukee | 14:10 ET
Jacob deGrom (80.2 IP, 90 xFIP-, 1.3 WAR) faces Jimmy Nelson (16.0 IP, 115 xFIP-, 0.2 WAR). The former, as illustrated by the table below and further supported by this hyperlink to the relevant leaderboard, has recorded the best park-adjusted xFIP among all qualified starters in July so far.

The 26-year-old deGrom faces a Milwaukee club which possesses the highest current odds of winning the NL Central division.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Milwaukee Radio or New York NL Television.

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Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
Washington at Cincinnati | 16:05 ET
Gio Gonzalez (86.2 IP, 99 xFIP-, 1.4 WAR) faces Johnny Cueto (148.2 IP, 84 xFIP-, 2.8 WAR). Of some (perhaps trivial) interest regarding the Washington Nationals: the club features three players (Anthony Rendon, Denard Span, and Jayson Werth) to have produced more than four runs by means of baserunning — a fifth of all major leaguers, that total, to have crossed the four-run threshold by that measure this season.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Washington Radio.

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Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
Cleveland at Kansas City | 19:10 ET
Josh Tomlin (81.1 IP, 81 xFIP-, 0.8 WAR) faces Yordano Ventura (107.2 IP, 95 xFIP-, 1.5 WAR). The latter has recorded the highest average fastball velocity (96.8 mph) among all qualified pitchers while also throwing strikes and preventing runs at a slightly above-average rate. The former has somehow improved upon his previously established strikeout rates by about 50% while also — despite conspicuously modest armspeed — while also producing the same exact park-adjusted xFIP as considerably more celebrated starters Madison Bumgarner and Max Scherzer.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Cleveland Radio.

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Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
Boston at Toronto | 12:37 ET
Rubby de la Rosa (44.1 IP, 90 xFIP-, 0.6 WAR) faces Marcus Stroman (60.1 IP, 89 xFIP-, 1.4 WAR). So far as stately pleasure-domes are concerned, the one Kubla Khan decreed in Xanadu is obviously the most notable. It’s beyond dispute, this point. Tonight, however, Messrs. de la Rosa and Stroman conspire to render the Rogers Centre among those regarded as the next-most stately and pleasing. Cumulatively, the pair have thrown fewer than 200 career innings. Cumulatively, they’ve recorded an average fastball velocity of 94 mph this season. And, cumulatively, the two have produced a park-adjusted xFIP about 10% better than league average.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Toronto Radio.

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Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
San Diego at Chicago NL | 20:05 ET
Ian Kennedy (129.1 IP, 87 xFIP-, 2.3 WAR) faces Tsuyoshi Wada (113.2 IP, 25.9% K, 6.0% BB at Triple-A). That the latter has produced the second-best strikeout-walk differential among all qualified Triple-A pitchers is a matter of record. Precisely how he’s done that — as a 33-year-old who was considerably less effective last year in the minors and also throws just 90 mph — that’s a greater mystery. Wada’s major-league debut July 8th at Cincinnati was a success; he recorded a 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio against 19 batters over 5.0 scoreless innings (box).

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Chicago NL Television.

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Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
Miami at Atlanta | 19:10 ET
Jacob Turner (63.2 IP, 102 xFIP-, 0.4 WAR) faces Mike Minor (83.1 IP, 97 xFIP-, 0.2 WAR). Despite having produced almost a precisely league-average park-adjusted xFIP as a starter, the former was removed from the rotation in mid-June after conceding what might rightly be classified as an excess of runs. A reasonably successful month in the bullpen, however, has earned him a return to starter’s duties — the burdens of which role will someday crush his spirit, because every man’s respective burdens eventually crush him.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Atlanta Radio.

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Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.

Most Highly Rated Game
Cleveland at Minnesota | 20:10 ET
T.J. House (45.0 IP, 89 xFIP-, 0.0 WAR) faces Kris Johnson (8.1 IP, 103 xFIP-, -0.1 WAR). The former, in his rookie season, has recorded both a park-adjusted xFIP (89 xFIP-) and strike rate (65.9%) nearly a standard deviation above the mean produced by those pitchers to have recorded 20-plus innings as a starter. While his low-ish arm slot (pictured below) isn’t ideal for neutralizing right-handed batters, he’s done so well enough over nine appearances (including eight starts) to record fielding-independent numbers superior to league average.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Cleveland Radio.

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