NERD Game Scores for Sunday, May 15, 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
Detroit at Baltimore | 13:35 ET
Fulmer (15.0 IP, 83 xFIP-) vs. Gausman (25.0 IP, 88 xFIP-)
Over the first three years and nearly 300 innings of his career, Baltimore’s Kevin Gausman produced better-than-average fielding-independent numbers while conceding actual runs at a worse-than-average rate. Over the first three starts and 15 innings of his career, Detroit’s Michael Fulmer has endured the precise same outcome. Now in his fourth season, Gausman has retained the same basic peripherals — but is preventing runs at a rate roughly 50% better than league average. Is it possible that one, observing Gausman, is observing Michael Fulmer’s future self? And if that is the case, is it dangerous for him to operate in such close proximity to Michael Fulmer’s present self? The answers are to be revealed!
Two Other Brief Notes
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Atlanta at Kansas City, starts at 14:15 ET, and can be accessed by means of this hyperlinked text.
Broadcaster Rankings
Recently, the present author began the process of process of reproducing the broadcaster rankings which appeared on this site roughly four years ago. Cast ballots for television broadcasts here; for radio broadcasts, here.
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.
| Away | SP | TM | GM | TM | SP | Home | Time | ||
| Miguel Gonzalez | CHA | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | NYA | Masahiro Tanaka | 13:05 |
| Tyler Duffey | MIN | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | CLE | Trevor Bauer | 13:10 |
| Sonny Gray | OAK | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | TB | Matt Moore | 13:10 |
| Dan Straily | CIN | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | PHI | Adam Morgan | 13:35 |
| Michael Fulmer | DET | 10 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 8 | BAL | Kevin Gausman | 13:35 |
| Chris Devenski | HOU | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 3 | BOS | Sean O’Sullivan* | 13:35 |
| Jose Fernandez | MIA | 10 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | WAS | Joe Ross | 13:35 |
| Cesar Vargas | SD | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | MIL | Zach Davies | 14:10 |
| Matt Wisler | ATL | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | KC | Danny Duffy* | 14:15 |
| Gerrit Cole | PIT | 7 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 5 | CHN | Jon Lester | 14:20 |
| Aaron Sanchez | TOR | 8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | TEX | Cesar Ramos* | 15:05 |
| Hector Santiago | LAA | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | SEA | Felix Hernandez | 16:10 |
| Jacob deGrom | NYN | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | COL | Tyler Chatwood | 16:10 |
| Matt Cain | SF | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | AZ | Rubby de la Rosa | 16:10 |
| Mike Leake | STL | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | LAN | Alex Wood | 20:05 |
TM denotes team score.
GM denotes overall game score.
Highlighted portion denotes game of the day.
* = Fewer than 10 IP, NERD at discretion of clueless author.
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
The Braves are back down to zero? What gives? Are they toggling between 0.49 and 0.51?