NERD Game Scores: An Experiment of Human Potential

Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by sabermetric nobleman 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 New York NL | 19:10 ET
Strasburg (99.2 IP, 73 xFIP-) vs. Syndergaard (101.0 IP, 57 xFIP-)
The author is quoting himself and plagiarizing others when he states that, at its best, sport acts as a medium by which one can observe people working at the outer margins of human potential. Tonight’s encounter between Stephen Strasburg and Noah Syndergaard represents the apogee of this virtue in sport — provided that’s how one uses the word apogee. Stephen Strasburg throws hard and features excellent command. Noah Syndergaard throws hard and features excellent command. Observing the pair, the spectator has the opportunity to be transformed — or, at the very least, to be diverted temporarily from this cavalcade of horrors.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: New York NL Television.

Two Other Brief Notes
This Other Game Will Also Suffice
While the virtues of a game featuring Stephen Strasburg and Noah Syndergaard are conspicuous, those of one featuring Yankees right-hander Chad Green are probably much less conspicuous. But regard: Chad Green has been nearly or completely indomiatable this season, having recorded the second-best strikeout- and walk-rate differential among Triple-A qualifiers this year and then actually surpassing his minor-league mark over his first three appearances in the majors. He throws hard! He’s performed admirably! Will his lack of a changeup prove to be an impediment? No one knows. No one knows anything.

Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Chicago NL at Pittsburgh, starts at 19:05 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 calculations both for team and game NERD scores feature adjustment for postseason odds that increases as season progresses. Read more about those adjustments here and here.