NERD Game Scores for July 4, 2017

Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by sabermetric forefather 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.

How are they calculated? Haphazardly, is how. An explanation of the components and formulae which produce these NERD scores is available here. All objections to the numbers here are probably justified, on account of how this entire endeavor is absurd.

Most Highly Rated Game
Arizona at Los Angeles NL | 21:10 ET
Corbin (90.2 IP, 94 xFIP-) vs. Kershaw (116.1 IP, 66 xFIP-)
The Dodgers currently possess the second-best offense in the majors and also the fourth-best defense in the majors. Or, at the very least, they’ve recorded the second-best offensive and fourth-best defensive marks so far. In either case, it’s not surprising they currently occupy first place in the NL West. What might be surprising is that the D-backs are situated just 2.5 games behind them in that division despite having recorded less strong offensive and defensive marks. Probability suggests that they’ll finish the evening either 1.5 or 3.5 games behind.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Los Angeles NL Television.

Another Brief Note
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features New York NL at Washington, starts at 11:05 ET, and can be accessed by means of this hyperlinked text.

Complete Schedule
Here’s the complete and also sortable table for all of today’s games. Pitching probables and game times aggregated from MLB.com and 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.