NERD Game Scores for June 7, 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
Washington at Los Angeles NL | 15:10 ET
Strasburg (74.1 IP, 79 xFIP-) vs. Kershaw (83.0 IP, 65 xFIP-)
Once again, the author’s haphazardly constructed algorithm confirms what most sentient beings could have determined for themselves — namely, in this case, that a game featuring two of the sport’s top pitchers might possesses some interest for viewers. The projections suggest that, at this point, Stephen Strasburg is likely to record the highest WAR of his career, whether one calculates that figure with FIP or runs allowed. He’s excelled by either version. As for Clayton Kershaw, he isn’t expected to post a career year and yet he remains one of the majors’ best pitchers.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Los Angeles NL Television.

Another Brief Note
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Toronto at Oakland, starts at 15:35 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.