NERD Game Scores for Thursday, May 12, 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
New York NL at Los Angeles NL | 22:10 ET
Colon (38.1 IP, 81 xFIP-) vs. Kershaw (53.0 IP, 51 xFIP-)
“To hope,” writes Emil Cioran in his pleasantly titled collection Syllogisms of Bitterness, “is to contradict the future.” A compelling sentiment, that — one which, even after a period of reflection, is difficult to discredit. Due to a number of factors — but mostly the all-consuming darkness that lurks just beyond the horizon — life and the living of it lends itself to a native pessimism. This isn’t to suggest, however, that there aren’t brief moments when some manner of hope or anticipation isn’t called for. Consider the case of this particular game, for example. In this corner, one finds Bartolo Colon, a rotund geriatric who radiates cheer. In this other corner, something not unlike The Best There Ever Was, Is, or Will Be. “What will happen?” one asks. “I don’t know,” everyone else answers. “Let’s find out.”

Two Other Brief Notes
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Kansas City at New York AL, starts at 19:05 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. The first installment of the results of the effort will appear on Monday, May 16.

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.

NERD Scores for May 12, 2016

Away		SP	TM	GM	TM	SP		Home	Time
Mike Pelfrey	DET	1	4	4	6	6	BAL	Ubaldo Jimenez	19:05
Ian Kennedy	KC	3	4	6	4	10	NYA	Nathan Eovaldi	19:05
Dallas Keuchel	HOU	6	6	7	8	9	BOS	David Price	19:10
Vincent Velasquez	PHI	9	3	3	0	0	ATL	Aaron Blair	19:10
James Shields	SD	2	5	4	6	3	MIL	Jimmy Nelson	20:10
Johnny Cueto	SF	7	5	7	8	7	AZ	Zack Greinke	21:40
Adam Wainwright	STL	4	7	3	2	1	LAA	Jered Weaver	22:05
Bartolo Colon	NYN	7	7	7	4	10	LAN	Clayton Kershaw	22:10

SP denotes pitcher NERD score.
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.