NERD Game Scores for Monday, May 4, 2015

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
Chicago NL at St. Louis | 20:10 ET
Wood (23.2 IP, 85 xFIP-) vs. Martinez (26.0 IP, 89 xFIP-)
Very hard-throwing right-hander Carlos Martinez has produced almost exactly the same strikeout and walk and ground-ball rates so far this year as he did last year. The difference: he recorded the majority of his innings in a relief capacity last season; this season, in a starting one. To the degree that pitching as a starter is more challenging than as a reliever, this is what one might call a “positive development.” Simultaneous to that, however, there are two less positive developments — namely, a decline both in Martinez’s swinging-strike rate (by about four points so far) and also his average fastball velocity (by about 2 mph currently). What this game represents is another trial in the experiment called Carlos Martinez, Baseball Pitcher — which experiment one can find commendably narrated by Cubs broadcasters Jim Deshaies and Len Kasper.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Chicago NL Television.

Two Brief Notes
Debut Alert
San Diego prospect Austin Hedges is expected to join the parent club before tonight’s game against San Francisco, according to MLB.com’s Corey Brock. The 22-year-old catcher was ranked third overall among Padres prospects by Kiley McDaniel this past offseason and 130th overall among all prospects. Hedges is regarded as an entirely able defender already. Concerns regarding his future have centered on his offensive ability. He began his season well in that regard, producing a 1:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio with Triple-A El Paso and also two home runs in 75 plate appearances.

Regarding Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Los Angeles NL at Milwaukee, starts at 7:20pm 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. Note that the calculations both for team and game NERD scores have changed recently to better integrate playoff odds into same. Read more about those changes here, if you’re the sort of person accustomed to making poor life decisions.

Away		SP	Tm.	Gm.	Tm.	SP		Home	Time
David Phelps	MIA	3	5	4	4	5	WAS	Jo. Zimmermann	19:05
Chase Whitley*	NYA	5	6	7	7	8	TOR	R.A. Dickey	19:07
Aaron Harang	PHI	6	1	4	3	5	ATL	Alex Wood	19:10
Jake Odorizzi	TB	7	4	7	5	9	BOS	Clay Buchholz	19:10
Clayt. Kershaw	LAN	10	8	7	2	5	MIL	Kyle Lohse	19:20
Travis Wood	CHN	7	6	8	5	10	STL	Carlos Martinez	20:10
Jesse Hahn	OAK	6	6	6	2	8	MIN	Phil Hughes	20:10
Ross Detwiler	TEX	0	3	4	10	7	HOU	Dallas Keuchel	20:10
Josh Collmenter	AZ	5	6	3	4	0	COL	Tyler Matzek	20:40
Felix Hernandez	SEA	9	6	6	4	5	LAA	Matt Shoemaker	22:05
Tyson Ross	SD	8	3	6	3	7	SF	Ma. Bumgarner	22:15

* = Fewer than 10 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.