NERD Game Scores: A Carlos Frias Data-Point Special Event

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 Los Angeles NL | 16:10 ET
Shields (55.1 IP, 74 xFIP-) vs. Frias (24.2 IP, 91 xFIP-)
For those, like the author, who operate under the notion that Dodgers right-hander Carlos Frias — owing to a combination of arm speed and command — that Carlos Frias possesses the tools to develop into an above-average major-league starting pitcher, what this game represents is not an opportunity to wholly confirm or refute that hypothesis, but rather to collect another data point in a series of data points that might ultimately aid in answering that question. For those, like the author, who also aren’t immune to the charms of fermented beverages, it represents an opportunity to collect that data point while consuming same.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Los Angeles NL Television.

Two Brief Notes
Promotion Alert: Dodgers’ Austin Barnes
The purpose of this brief entry is to note how Dodgers catching and also second-base prospect Austin Barnes was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City yesterday. Barnes was a fixture among the author’s weekly Fringe Five columns last year as a prospect in the Miami system. Traded to Los Angeles over the offseason, he’s exhibited precisely the same collection of talents this year so far: above-average contact and plate-discipline skills, non-negligible power, and defensive flexibility. With regard to that last point, one finds that Barnes has made all 29 of his starts this season for Oklahoma City as a catcher, after splitting time between that position and second base — and even third base, too — last year. He’s expected to remain with the club only for such time as starting catcher Yasmani Grandal recovers from a concussion.

Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Minnesota at Chicago AL, starts at 2:10pm ET, and can be accessed by means of this hyperlinked text.

Complete Schedule
Here’s the complete and very sortable table for all of today’s games. Pitching probables and game times aggregated from MLB.com and also the rest of the internet. Note that the calculations both for team and game NERD scores have changed recently to better integrate playoff odds into same. Read more about those changes here, if you’re the sort of person accustomed to making poor life decisions.

Away		SP	Tm.	Gm.	Tm.	SP		Home	Time
Taijuan Walker	SEA	7	6	6	7	3	TOR	Aaron Sanchez	13:07
Rob.o Hernandez	HOU	2	10	6	6	6	DET	Anibal Sanchez	13:08
Miguel Gonzalez	BAL	3	4	3	5	2	MIA	Tom Koehler	13:10
Raisel Iglesias	CIN	4	5	5	7	5	CLE	Trevor Bauer	13:10
Sonny Gray	OAK	7	5	6	6	5	TB	Erasmo Ramirez	13:10
Hector Santiago	LAA	3	6	4	5	2	BOS	Wade Miley	13:35
Jimmy Nelson	MIL	6	3	5	2	6	ATL	M. Foltynewicz	13:35
Jon Niese	NYN	3	5	5	7	7	PIT	Francisco Liriano	13:35
Aaron Harang	PHI	4	0	4	5	7	WAS	Gio Gonzalez	13:35
Kyle Gibson	MIN	2	2	3	0	5	CHA	Jose Quintana	14:10
Michael Wacha	STL	6	6	7	7	8	KC	Yo. Ventura	14:10
Jason Hammel	CHN	8	7	6	5	3	AZ	J.my Hellickson	16:10
James Shields	SD	9	4	7	7	8	LAN	Carlos Frias	16:10
Tim Hudson	SF	4	4	4	3	4	COL	Chad Bettis	16:10
Yovani Gallardo	TEX	3	3	4	6	5	NYA	Chris Capuano*	20:05

* = Fewer than 10 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.