NERD Game Scores for Friday, May 8, 2015

Devised originally in response to a challhenge 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
Oakland at Seattle | 22:10 ET
Gray (43.0 IP, 98 xFIP-) vs. Walker (22.2 IP, 120 xFIP-)
Seattle right-hander Taijuan Walker hasn’t provided much in the way of performance this season. The ERA is unsightly (as exhibited by the 222 ERA-), nor are the fielding-independent numbers distinguished for their world-famous sightliness, at this point (as exhibited by the 138 FIP- and 120 xFIP-). The projections suggest, however, that Walker will improve on all those numbers. And in terms of aesthetics, he offers the following collection of charms: considerable youth, plus velocity, and enough command not to render it all moot. Also, he works at a pace (19.5 seconds between pitches) nearly a standard deviation faster than the average starter.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Oakland Radio.

Two Brief Notes
Video: Preston Tucker Debut Show, Great Job!
Houston outfielder Preston Tucker made his debut on Thursday. Here’s video of his first hit, which was also an essential part of that Astros’ ninth-inning rally against the Angels:

Regarding Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Kansas City at Detroit, starts at 7:08pm 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
Eric Stults	ATL	4	4	5	4	8	WAS	Gio Gonzalez	19:05
Mig. Gonzalez	BAL	5	6	5	6	3	NYA	Adam Warren	19:05
Matt Harvey	NYN	10	6	7	1	6	PHI	Cole Hamels	19:05
Michael Wacha	STL	7	5	7	6	7	PIT	Francisco Liriano	19:05
Wade Miley	BOS	3	5	5	7	5	TOR	Aaron Sanchez	19:07
Yor. Ventura	KC	9	7	7	4	6	DET	David Price	19:08
Mike Pelfrey	MIN	3	3	5	7	6	CLE	Trevor Bauer	19:10
Yovani Gallardo	TEX	4	3	4	4	5	TB	Nate Karns	19:10
Jason Hammel	CHN	8	6	6	3	6	MIL	Jimmy Nelson	20:10
Jason Marquis	CIN	7	6	5	0	4	CHA	Hector Noesi	20:10
Brett Anderson	LAN	8	8	6	4	3	COL	Eddie Butler	20:40
James Shields	SD	10	4	7	5	5	AZ	Jeremy Hellickson	21:40
Ro. Hernandez	HOU	4	10	5	5	5	LAA	Jered Weaver	22:05
Sonny Gray	OAK	7	7	7	5	8	SEA	Taijuan Walker	22:10
Jarred Cosart	MIA	7	5	6	4	5	SF	Tim Lincecum	22:15

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