NERD Game Scores for Friday, May 6, 2016

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 Chicago NL | 14:20 ET
Scherzer (38.0 IP, 91 xFIP-) vs. Lackey (33.1 IP, 85 xFIP-)
It represents a classic case of “stating the obvious” to note how this game features, in the Cubs, probably the best major-league team in the majors, and also, in the Nationals, something not much worse than the best major-league team in the majors. Likewise, observing that Max Scherzer is an elite pitcher recalls for many of us that gentleman who pointed at the sky and made certain remarks on the subject of its blue-ness. Is John Lackey elite? Perhaps not. But his name is a byword for competence. In short, this game offers quality all around — plus also a version of Tommy La Stella who’s produced seven extra-base hits in fewer than 50 plate appearances.

Two Other Brief Notes
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Boston at New York AL starts at 19:05 ET, and can be accessed by means of this hyperlinked text.

Broadcaster Rankings
Recently, the present author began the process of process of reproducing the broadcaster rankings which appeared on this site roughly four years ago. Cast ballots for television broadcasts here; for radio broadcasts, here.

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.

NERD Scores for May 6, 2016

Away		SP	TM	GM	TM	SP		Home	Time
Max Scherzer	WAS	7	6	8	9	8	CHN	John Lackey	14:20
Rick Porcello	BOS	7	6	7	4	8	NYA	Michael Pineda	19:05
Rich Hill	OAK	6	5	5	5	5	BAL	Ubaldo Jimenez	19:05
Kenta Maeda	LAN	6	4	5	4	6	TOR	Marcus Stroman	19:07
Yordano Ventura	KC	2	3	4	6	6	CLE	Danny Salazar	19:10
Tyler Cravy*	MIL	6	5	5	3	6	CIN	Tim Adleman*	19:10
Vincent Velasquez	PHI	9	3	6	6	6	MIA	Wei-Yin Chen	19:10
Cole Hamels	TEX	4	3	4	5	5	DET	Jordan Zimmermann	19:10
Zack Greinke	AZ	6	8	4	0	1	ATL	Aaron Blair	19:35
Ricky Nolasco	MIN	6	6	4	4	1	CHA	Mat Latos	20:10
Taijuan Walker	SEA	10	5	6	6	2	HOU	Doug Fister	20:10
Francisco Liriano	PIT	4	5	6	7	8	STL	Carlos Martinez	20:15
Chris Archer	TB	8	7	5	2	4	LAA	Cory Rasmus*	22:05
Chad Bettis	COL	5	4	5	6	6	SF	Madison Bumgarner	22:15
Noah Syndergaard	NYN	10	7	7	5	6	SD	Drew Pomeranz	22:40

SP denotes pitcher NERD score.
TM denotes team score.
GM denotes overall game score.
Highlighted portion denotes game of the day.

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