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
Milwaukee at Arizona | 21:40 ET
Wily Peralta (80.2 IP, 94 xFIP-, 0.7 WAR) faces Brandon McCarthy (85.0 IP, 76 xFIP-, 0.7 WAR). The latter, as the table below illustrates, has produced the largest difference between park-adjusted ERA and xFIP among the league’s 99 qualified starters — an indication, very probably, that Brandon McCarthy will prevent runs more effectively in the near future than he has in the not very distant past.

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
Los Angeles NL at Colorado | 20:40 ET
Hyun-Jin Ryu (58.1 IP, 86 xFIP-, 1.5 WAR) faces Eddie Butler (68.2 IP, 14.1% K, 6.7% BB at Double-A). The latter was ranked first among Rockies prospects this preseason by Marc Hulet and 15th among all prospects everywhere by that same polite Canadian. One finds that he (i.e. Butler, not Marc Hulet) has produced less than elite fielding-independent numbers this season at Double-A Tulsa. Even so, praise for his fastball — both its velocity and movement — is ubiquitous.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Colorado 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
St. Louis at Kansas City | 20:10 ET
Michael Wacha (73.1 IP, 83 xFIP-, 1.7 WAR) faces Yordano Ventura (57.1 IP, 83 xFIP-, 1.1 WAR). In or around 1964, very good boxer Cassius Clay suggested that, among all the qualities he possessed, that probably his youth and speed and invincibility were the most notable. This evening’s starters share the first two traits in some quantity. As they’re facing each other, however, they will likely demonstrate more in the way of beated-ness than Clay himself might have.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: St. Louis 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 Cleveland | 19:05 ET
Brandon Workman (16.2 IP, 101 xFIP-, 0.4 WAR) faces Corey Kluber (80.0 IP, 67 xFIP-, 2.8 WAR). The latter recorded 60 strikeouts and just eight walks in May, which achievement (according to pensive bullfighter Jason Lukehart) makes Kluber only the 10th pitcher since 1914 to compile at least 60 strikeouts in a single month while also conceding fewer than 10 walks. The lowest career WAR of the first nine pitchers to accomplish the feat: 57.9, care of Sandy Koufax. The worst career park-adjusted ERA: Jim Kaat’s 93 ERA-. (See the full list of players via this custom leaderboard.)

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
Pittsburgh at San Diego | 22:10 ET
Gerrit Cole (71.0 IP, 94 xFIP-, 0.5 WAR) faces Jesse Hahn (32.2 IP, 20.9% K, 8.2% BB at Double-A). The former is a 23-year-old who has recorded thus far the fourth-highest average fastball velocity, at 95.7 mph, among 101 qualified pitchers. The latter, making his major-league debut, is a 22-year-old right-hander who — according to multiple reports — is likely to sit at something like 93-96 mph with his fastball.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: San Diego 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
Chicago AL at Los Angeles NL | 19:10 ET
Jose Quintana (67.1 IP, 88 xFIP-, 1.6 WAR) faces Clayton Kershaw (35.1 IP, 50 xFIP-, 1.2 WAR). Among the 172 pitchers who qualify for NERD — which is to say, pitchers who’ve recorded 20 innings or more as a starter — the latter has produced the best park-adjusted xFIP. By definition, the left-handed Quintana hasn’t done that. “Such is life,” one is compelled to say — in a foreign language, if at all possible.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Los Angeles 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
Atlanta at Miami | 13:10 ET
Aaron Harang (65.2 IP, 85 xFIP-, 2.0 WAR) faces Nathan Eovaldi (67.0 IP, 95 xFIP-, 1.0 WAR). In addition to having recorded the second-highest average fastball velocity among 101 qualified pitchers (tied with Garrett Richards behind Yordano Ventura), the latter has also recorded above-average walk and ground-ball rates. Indeed, Eovaldi is the only qualifier to have produced thus far an average fastball velocity of 95 mph or higher and a walk rate of 2.0 BB/9 or lower.

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
Atlanta at Miami | 16:10 ET
Ervin Santana (57.2 IP, 85 xFIP-, 0.9 WAR) faces Jacob Turner (33.2 IP, 100 xFIP-, 0.1 WAR) in a contest that features two of the league’s most appealing clubs, according to the probably wrong metric devised by the author. The Atlantans, for their part, have produced the league’s most excellent relief pitching numbers and second-best defensive-run figures; the Miamis, a cumulative hitting line among the league’s top third despite featuring a roster which earns that same league’s lowest collective payroll.

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
San Francisco at St. Louis | 20:15 ET
Madison Bumgarner (65.2 IP, 79 xFIP-, 1.2 WAR) faces Adam Wainwright (81.0 IP, 77 xFIP-, 2.2 WAR). While a reasonable person might suppose otherwise, the innings figure published here for Wainwright actually is not a misprint: indeed, he (and three other pitchers, it appears) has already crossed the 80-inning threshold. Another threshold he’s crossed (alone in this case) is the three-win one — when calculating WAR by means of runs allowed, that is, and not FIP.

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
Pittsburgh at Los Angeles NL | 22:10 ET
Gerrit Cole (64.2 IP, 91 xFIP-, 0.3 WAR) faces Dan Haren (62.2 IP, 89 xFIP-, 0.8 WAR). The former, according to PITCHf/x, has produced the third-highest average fastball velocity this season (95.6 mph) among 101 qualified pitchers. For a moment’s worth of amusement attempt to guess the first two pitchers by that same measure. Afterwards, resume your wild search for distractions from the abyss.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Los Angeles NL Television.

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