NERD Game Scores for Tuesday, August 09, 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
Cleveland at Washington | 19:05 ET
Bauer (119.0 IP, 100 xFIP-) vs. Scherzer (156.2 IP, 79 xFIP-)
After reaching a high of 92% on July 20, Cleveland’s probability of winning the AL Central has declined to the 75% mark at which it currently rests, per the methodology used at this site. The Detroit Tigers have been largely responsible for that alteration, reducing their deficit in the division to merely 2.5 games. The projections remain optimistic about Cleveland, however, calling for them to expand upon their lead before the end of the season. That likely won’t happen tonight, however: Max Scherzer and the Nationals are favored — above and beyond whatever sort of advantage home field might impart.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Washington Radio.

One Other, Superlatively Short Note
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features San Diego at Pittsburgh, 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 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.