NERD Game Scores for Saturday, August 06, 2016

Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by sabermetric nobleman 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
Toronto at Kansas City | 19:15 ET
Sanchez (139.1 IP, 81 xFIP-) vs. Duffy (108.2 IP, 81 xFIP-)
Toronto currently possesses almost as little certainty as is mathematically possible regarding their postseason future. Per the methodology used at the site, the Blue Jays hold a 45.1% probability of winning the AL East and 42.0% probability of qualifying for the wild card. As for all of us, their future is dark, uncertain.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Toronto Radio.

Two Other Brief Notes
Debut!
Right-handed Phillies prospect Jake Thompson, acquired by Philadelphia in the trade that sent Cole Hamels to Texas (and acquired from Detroit before that in exchange for Joakim Soria), is expected to record his major-league debut tonight at San Diego. Lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen, known everywhere for his industry, published a report on Thompson this actual very morning.

Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Minnesota at Tampa Bay, starts at 18:10 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 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.