NERD Game Scores for Tuesday, June 9, 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
Arizona at Los Angeles NL | 22:10 ET
Ray (11.0 IP, 87 xFIP-) vs. Frias (42.1 IP, 102 xFIP-)
In addition to representing an opportunity to collect another data point in a series of data points relevant to Carlos Frias’s career as a major leaguer, what else this game represents is an occasion, apparently, to observe left-hander Robbie Ray sitting at 94 mph with his fastball. A departure, that, from the version of Ray who made nine appearances with Detroit last year and recorded an average fastball velocity of 91.3 mph. Perhaps a result of that added velocity, Ray has produced excellent fielding-independent numbers over his first two starts with Arizona, posting a 9:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio against 44 batters over 11.0 innings with his new club.
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Los Angeles NL Television.
Two Brief Notes
Constantly Looping Video: Carlos Correa Defensive Play
Famously, Houston shortstop prospect Carlos Correa recorded his major-league debut yesterday. Below is constantly looping video depicting that same young player successfully executing an impressive defensive play.
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Los Angeles AL at Tampa Bay, starts at 19:10 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 changes here, if you’re the sort of person accustomed to making poor life decisions.
| Away | SP | Tm. | Gm. | Tm. | SP | Home | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ed.o Rodriguez | BOS | 10 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | BAL | Miguel Gonzalez | 19:05 |
| Tayl’r Jungmann* | MIL | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 9 | PIT | Francisco Liriano | 19:05 |
| Max Scherzer | WAS | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | NYA | Masahiro Tanaka | 19:05 |
| Dan Haren | MIA | 3 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 3 | TOR | Mark Buehrle | 19:07 |
| Jon Lester | CHN | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | DET | Anibal Sanchez | 19:08 |
| Matt Shoemaker | LAA | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | TB | Nate Karns | 19:10 |
| Aaron Harang | PHI | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | CIN | Ant. DeSclafani | 19:10 |
| James Shields | SD | 7 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 7 | ATL | Mike Foltynewicz | 19:10 |
| Chris Heston | SF | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 10 | NYN | No. Syndergaard | 19:10 |
| Roenis Elias | SEA | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | CLE | Corey Kluber | 19:10 |
| Dallas Keuchel | HOU | 8 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 6 | CHA | Carlos Rodon | 20:10 |
| Chris Young | KC | 2 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | MIN | Trevor May | 20:10 |
| Michael Wacha | STL | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | COL | Jorge de la Rosa | 20:40 |
| Nick Martinez | TEX | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | OAK | Sonny Gray | 22:05 |
| Robbie Ray | AZ | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | LAN | Carlos Frias | 22:10 |
* = 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.
Due to random, shit luck, tonight will be the first time I have a chance to see Rodriguez in action. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited.