NERD Game Scores for May 17, 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
New York AL at Kansas City | 20:15 ET
Pineda (41.1 IP, 58 xFIP-) vs. Vargas (44.2 IP, 90 xFIP-)
Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda has produced strikeout and walk rates of 30.3% and 3.6%, respectively, this year. The 26.7-point difference between those two figures represents the second-best mark — behind only Chris Sale (32.9) — among baseball’s 99 qualified pitchers. He’s elite in that regard, is the idea.

Of some interest, as well: Kansas City starter Jason Vargas has recorded the league’s second-highest WAR figure — largely, that, by allowing the fewest home runs per fly ball among major-league qualifiers. The Yankees, meanwhile, have produced the highest park-adjusted home-run rate in the American League. “Will or won’t Vargas allow a home run?” one wonders. The suspense is terrible.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Kansas City Radio.

Another Brief Note
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Washington at Pittsburgh, starts at 19:05 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.