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
Colorado at Milwaukee | 20:10 ET
Christian Friedrich (6.0 IP, 175 xFIP-, -0.1 WAR) faces Wily Peralta (95.1 IP, 94 xFIP-, 0.9 WAR). Despite having recorded the seventh-youngest average batters’ age among major-league clubs, Colorado has also produced the seventh-most park-adjusted runs. For this and other reasons — all of which the author would enthusiastically address over reasonably priced rakija at seaside caffe bar in Split — that same Rockies club features a perfect NERD score at the moment.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee | 14:10 ET
Stephen Strasburg (100.0 IP, 65 xFIP-, 2.8 WAR) faces Marco Estrada (89.2 IP, 112 xFIP-, -0.8 WAR). The latter has produced a strikeout-walk differential of 14.1 percentage points — a stat, that, which correlates highly with run prevention and a precise figure, that, which ranks 32nd among the league’s 95 qualified pitchers. What else Estrada has produced, however, is 24 home-runs allowed over 15 starts and ca. 90 innings. “Is there something wrong with Estrada? Ought the Brewers replace him with minor-leaguer Jimmy Nelson?” These are questions being asked by Americans today.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Milwaukee 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
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay | 19:10 ET
Jeff Locke (26.1 IP, 81 xFIP-, 0.7 WAR) at Chris Archer (86.0 IP, 95 xFIP-, 2.0 WAR). The former entered last week’s game against Cincinnati with one of the most appealing aesthetic profiles of any major-league starter. Despite striking out only two of the 22 batters he faced in that same contest (box), Locke threw roughly two-thirds of his 83 pitches for strikes, worked quickly, and still exited the game with a swinging-strike rate this season (12.0%) superior to Madison Bumgarner‘s and Max Scherzer‘s and Zack Greinke‘s and Michael Wacha‘s and Yu Darvish’s.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Tampa Bay 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 Seattle | 22:10 ET
John Lackey (103.1 IP, 82 xFIP-, 2.7 WAR) faces Felix Hernandez (113.1 IP, 60 xFIP-, 4.4 WAR). The difference between Hernandez’s WAR and that having been produced by second-placeman Yu Darvish is — as of very early Monday, at least — is equivalent to the difference between Darvish’s WAR and Nathan Eovaldi’s, the latter currently 30th among qualifiers by that measure. With regard to John Lackey, one finds that has has actually improved upon last year’s fielding-independent numbers, which numbers were considered a pleasant surprise after some dismal recent seasons care of the right-hander.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Boston 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 Francisco at Arizona | 16:10 ET
Madison Bumgarner (94.2 IP, 78 xFIP-, 1.9 WAR) faces Michael Bolsinger (30.0 IP, 83 xFIP-, 0.1 WAR). While the virtues of the former are mostly conspicuous, one notes that the latter has produced excellent fielding-independent numbers, as well, including strikeout and walk rates of 20.1% and 5.8%, respectively, and a park-adjusted xFIP nearly 20% better than league average. Of note regarding Bolsinger: his cutter (ca. 65%) and curveball (ca. 33%) account for nearly 100% of the pitches he’s thrown this season.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: San Francisco Radio or 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
Boston at Oakland | 16:05 ET
Rubby de la Rosa (25.1 IP, 76 xFIP-, 0.4 WAR) faces Jesse Chavez (86.0 IP, 89 xFIP-, 1.4 WAR). The former has been excellent over four starts for the Red Sox — those starts, incidentally, representing the first he’s made at the major-league level since 2011. Among the pitchers who have recorded 20-plus innings as a starter, de la Rosa’s park-adjusted xFIP (76 xFIP-), swinging-strike rate (11.2%), and average fastball velocity (94.4 mph) are all more than a standard deviation better than the mean.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Boston 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
Atlanta at Washington | 19:10 ET
Mike Minor (53.0 IP, 95 xFIP-, 0.1 WAR) faces Stephen Strasburg (94.0 IP, 66 xFIP-, 2.6 WAR). The latter has produced a park-adjusted xFIP (66 xFIP-), swinging-strike rate (12.0%), overall strike rate (67.5%), and average fastball velocity (94.3 mph) all at least one standard deviation better than the mean among those pitchers who’ve recorded 20-plus innings as a starter. He’s also one of just seven pitchers projected to produce a WAR of 2.0 or greater over the remaining three-plus months of the 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
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh | 12:35 ET
Homer Bailey (84.2 IP, 93 xFIP-, 0.5 WAR) faces Jeff Locke (20.1 IP, 72 xFIP-, 0.6 WAR). The latter, who notably outperformed his mediocre fielding-independent numbers for much of last season’s first half, has produced decidedly not mediocre ones of those (see: 17 strikeouts vs. 1 walk) through three starts and 20.1 innings. According both to the present site’s PITCHf/x data and also Brooks Baseball’s, Locke has increased his sinker usage considerably (to the near exclusion of his four-seamer) while also throwing the changeup more often.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Cincinnati 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
Seattle at San Diego | 22:10 ET
Felix Hernandez (106.1 IP, 64 xFIP-, 4.0 WAR) faces Andrew Cashner (69.1 IP, 87 xFIP-, 1.5 WAR). The former, despite the heights of his previously established levels, is projected both by Steamer and ZiPS to record the best single-season WAR mark of his career. The latter, whose heights have been less high, is nevertheless also projected to produce his top WAR mark.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Seattle 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
Toronto at New York AL | 19:05 ET
Marcus Stroman (24.1 IP, 87 xFIP-, 0.6 WAR) faces Masahiro Tanaka (93.2 IP, 62 xFIP-, 2.8 WAR). The latter has produced not only the highest WAR among rookie pitchers by a considerable margin, but also the third-highest WAR among all pitchers. He faces the offense which has recorded the best park-adjusted batting line among major-league clubs.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Toronto Radio?

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