NERD Game Scores for May 24, 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
Cincinnati at Cleveland | 18:10 ET
Bonilla (18.1 IP, 116 xFIP-) vs. Bauer (44.2 IP, 81 xFIP-)
By each of those three variables that inform run-prevention beyond the three included in expected FIP, Bauer has fared almost as poorly as possible. Among qualified pitchers, he’s conceded nearly the most home runs per fly ball. He’s allowed nearly the most hits per ball in play. He’s stranded nearly the fewest runners who’ve reached base against him. To observe Trevor Bauer is to observe a plaything of the arbitrary. It is to observe… ourselves!

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Cleveland Radio.

Another Brief Note
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Toronto at Milwaukee, starts at 13:10 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.