NERD Game Scores for Monday, June 23, 2014

Devised originally in response to a challenge 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
Boston at Seattle | 22:10 ET
John Lackey (103.1 IP, 82 xFIP-, 2.7 WAR) faces Felix Hernandez (113.1 IP, 60 xFIP-, 4.4 WAR). The difference between Hernandez’s WAR and that having been produced by second-placeman Yu Darvish is — as of very early Monday, at least — is equivalent to the difference between Darvish’s WAR and Nathan Eovaldi’s, the latter currently 30th among qualifiers by that measure. With regard to John Lackey, one finds that has has actually improved upon last year’s fielding-independent numbers, which numbers were considered a pleasant surprise after some dismal recent seasons care of the right-hander.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Boston Radio.

Two Brief Notes
Regarding the Padres, Who Might Pitch for Them
It’s very possible, according to MLB Trade Rumors’ Tim Dierkes, that Cuban right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne — signed last month for $1 million — will make his major-league debut tonight for San Diego. Despaigne recorded strikeout and walk rates of 26.8% and 11.8%, respectively, in 31.1 innings over seven starts between Double- and Triple-A.

Regarding Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, starts at 7:10pm 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.

Away		SP	Tm.	Gm.	Tm.	SP		Home	Time
Chris Sale	CHA	10	2	6	4	5	BAL	Wei-Yin Chen	19:05
Nathan Eovaldi	MIA	9	7	5	1	1	PHI	Rob. Hernandez	19:05
Chase Whitley	NYA	5	4	6	7	8	TOR	Marcus Stroman	19:07
Edinson Volquez	PIT	3	5	5	6	7	TB	Alex Cobb	19:10
Alfredo Simon	CIN	4	3	5	5	7	CHN	Jeff Samardzija	20:05
Zack Greinke	LAN	7	5	5	5	3	KC	Jeremy Guthrie	20:10
Gio Gonzalez	WAS	6	7	5	7	3	MIL	Matt Garza	20:10
Lance Lynn	STL	4	3	4	10	2	COL	Jhoulys Chacin	20:40
John Lackey	BOS	8	2	8	4	10	SEA	Felix Hernandez	22:10
Undecided	SD	5	4	4	7	3	SF	Matt Cain	22:15

To learn how Game NERD Scores are calculated, click here.
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.