NERD Game Scores for Sunday, May 18, 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
Tampa Bay at Los Angeles AL | 15:35 ET
David Price (62.2 IP, 67 xFIP-, 1.4 WAR) faces Matt Shoemaker (11.2 IP, 105 xFIP-, -0.1 WAR). After his most recent start, during which he recorded a 12:0 strikeout-to-walk over 9.0 innings while also conceding just a single run at Seattle (box), Price’s run-prevention numbers now more closely resemble his excellent fielding-independent ones. Of note with regard to his opponents, the Angels have thus far produced a park-adjusted batting line, park-adjusted home-run rate, base-running runs total, and defensive-runs figure all about a standard deviation or better than league average.
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Tampa Bay Radio.
Three Brief Notes
Regarding Jaime Garcia, The Significance of His Start Today
St. Louis left-hander Jaime Garcia’s start at home against Atlanta this afternoon represents his first major-league appearance since last May 17th.
Regarding Donn Roach, Who That Is
San Diego right-hander Donn Roach, making his first major-league start this afternoon at Colorado, was originally a third-round selection by the Angels in 2010 who was then traded to San Diego (along with Alexi Amarista) for Ernesto Frieri. He’s recorded 102 xFIP- over 21.0 innings in relief thus far in 2014.
Regarding Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game hadn’t been announced as of press time, but 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jesse Chavez | OAK | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | CLE | Justin Masterson | 13:05 |
| Charlie Morton | PIT | 3 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | NYA | Hiroki Kuroda | 13:05 |
| Gerrit Cole | PIT | 9 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | NYA | Vidal Nuno | TBD |
| Tony Cingrani | CIN | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 9 | PHI | Cliff Lee | 13:35 |
| Zack Wheeler | NYN | 6 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 9 | WAS | J. Zimmermann | 13:35 |
| Ubaldo Jimenez | BAL | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | KC | James Shields | 14:10 |
| John Danks | CHA | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 | HOU | Brad Peacock | 14:10 |
| Felix Hernandez | SEA | 8 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | MIN | Ricky Nolasco | 14:10 |
| Gavin Floyd* | ATL | 8 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 8 | STL | Jaime Garcia* | 14:15 |
| Marco Estrada | MIL | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | CHN | Travis Wood | 14:20 |
| R.A. Dickey | TOR | 8 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | TEX | Nick Martinez* | 15:05 |
| David Price | TB | 9 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 6 | LAA | Matt Shoemaker* | 15:35 |
| Jacob Turner | MIA | 6 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 0 | SF | Ryan Vogelsong | 16:05 |
| Dan Haren | LAN | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | AZ | Josh Collmenter | 16:10 |
| Donn Roach* | SD | 5 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 3 | COL | Juan Nicasio | 16:10 |
| Anibal Sanchez | DET | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | BOS | Jake Peavy | 20:05 |
To learn how Game NERD Scores are calculated, click here.
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
If only Travis Wood was slightly more average aesthetically appealing the Cubs Brewers Game would have been perfect 5’s. Does this mean if someone turned on the game, they would both find it impossible to really get into the game, and also to find it in themselves to change in it hope of something better?