NERD Game Scores for Saturday, August 15, 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
New York AL at Toronto | 13:07 ET
Tanaka (99.2 IP, 82 xFIP-) vs. Estrada (117.2 IP, 117 xFIP-)
Toronto right-hander Marco Estrada, acquired recently from Milwaukee, has recorded among the lowest park-adjusted ERAs this season relative to his park-adjusted xFIP — trailing only Zack Greinke and Scott Kazmir by that measure, actually. “Is it a product of fortune,” one wonders, “or of skill?” The answer, as in most cases, is likely “both.” It’s the distribution of two that’s relevant — and the precise terms of which, like personal happiness or a father’s love, continue to remain just beyond arm’s reach.
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Toronto Radio.
Two Brief Notes
Josh Tomlin’s Debridement
Right-handed Clevelander Josh Tomlin is scheduled to record his season debut this evening after having endured something called debridement. A brief examination of the relevant sources confirms that debridement is not the same thing as divorce, although one could be excused for making that mistake.
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Oakland at Baltimore, starts at 19:05 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 adjustments here and here.
| Away | SP | Tm. | Gm. | Tm. | SP | Home | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masa. Tanaka | NYA | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 3 | TOR | Marco Estrada | 13:07 |
| Felix Hernandez | SEA | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | BOS | Wade Miley | 13:35 |
| Chris Bassitt | OAK | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | BAL | Miguel Gonzalez | 19:05 |
| Patrick Corbin | AZ | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 | ATL | Mike Foltynewicz | 19:10 |
| Jake Arrieta | CHN | 8 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 7 | CHA | Jose Quintana | 19:10 |
| Josh Tomlin* | CLE | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | MIN | Tyler Duffey* | 19:10 |
| Justin Verlander | DET | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | HOU | Collin McHugh | 19:10 |
| M. Shoemaker | LAA | 5 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 7 | KC | Johnny Cueto | 19:10 |
| Jer. Williams | PHI | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | MIL | Jimmy Nelson | 19:10 |
| Charlie Morton | PIT | 6 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | NYN | Jon Niese | 19:10 |
| Brad Hand | MIA | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | STL | John Lackey | 19:15 |
| Chris Archer | TB | 10 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | TEX | Colby Lewis | 20:05 |
| And. Cashner | SD | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | COL | Jonathan Gray | 20:10 |
| Dav. Holmberg | CIN | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 6 | LAN | Brett Anderson | 21:10 |
| Gio Gonzalez | WAS | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 3 | SF | Jake Peavy | 22:05 |
* = Fewer than 10 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
It’s comforting to know that if I ever find myself considering having a good day, this column will be here to remind me of the relentlessly painful and horrifying nature of reality.