NERD Game Scores: Consummate Pitching Afoot in Cleveland

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.

Two Brief Notes
Ongoing Coverage of Billy Burns
It is likely, owing to how Oakland faces Houston left-hander Dallas Keuchel, that outfield prospect Billy Burns will start for the A’s tonight. Burns, for the second consecutive season, has distinguished himself as the best (or nearly best) basestealer in all the minor leagues.

Regarding Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game hadn’t been announced as of press time, but 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.

Away		SP	Tm.	Gm.	Tm.	SP		Home	Time
Yovani Gallardo	MIL	4	6	7	7	10	TB	David Price	12:10
Kyle Kendrick	PHI	2	3	4	2	8	NYN	Zack Wheeler	12:10
Wade Miley	AZ	8	5	6	2	5	CIN	Alfredo Simon	12:35
Tanner Roark	WAS	5	7	5	7	4	MIA	Brad Hand	12:40
Jason Hammel	OAK	6	8	7	9	8	HOU	Dallas Keuchel	14:10
Charlie Morton	PIT	4	5	5	5	6	SF	Tim Lincecum	15:45
Garrett Richards	LAA	9	6	7	6	5	BAL	Kevin Gausman	19:05
Felix Hernandez	SEA	10	4	9	8	9	CLE	Corey Kluber	19:05
Hector Noesi	CHA	4	2	5	3	8	DET	Max Scherzer	19:08
Mark Buehrle	TOR	4	6	4	3	3	BOS	Bran’on Workman	19:10
Brett Anderson	COL	4	8	4	6	1	CHN	Travis Wood	20:05
Hiroki Kuroda	NYA	3	2	3	3	3	TEX	Colby Lewis	20:05
Phil Hughes	MIN	9	4	6	4	4	KC	Danny Duffy	20:10
Alex Wood	ATL	8	7	8	5	8	LAN	Zack Greinke	22:10
Joe Kelly	STL	4	3	5	4	8	SD	Jesse Hahn	22:10

To learn how Game NERD Scores are calculated, click here.
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.