NERD Game Scores for Wednesday, May 14, 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
New York AL at New York NL | 19:10 ET
Masahiro Tanaka (49.0 IP, 58 xFIP-, 1.2 WAR) faces Rafael Montero (41.2 IP, 24.1% K, 10.6% BB at Triple-A). The latter, who has typically produced more excellent numbers than one might otherwise expect from his armspeed and build, makes his major-league debut. The former has recorded both the second-best xFIP- and best overall swinging-strike rate among qualified starters.
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: New York NL Television.
Three Brief Notes
Justin Verlander’s NERD Score Is Quite Low
He’s prevented runs excellently, which is the exact main thing for which he’s remunerated, but has also recorded what would be the worst park-adjusted xFIP of his career and also the lowest average fastball velocity.
There Are Two Major League Debuts Today
In addition to Montero, also Anthony DeSclafani makes his major-league debut, replacing Jose Fernandez sadly in the Miami rotation. Very talented Baltimore prospect Kevin Gausman, who retains rookie eligibility in 2014, makes his first appearance of the season.
Atlanta-San Francisco Is Today’s Free Game
It starts at 3:45pm 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.
| Away | SP | Tm. | Gm. | Tm. | SP | Home | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Verlander | DET | 4 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 9 | BAL | Kevin Gausman* | 12:35 |
| Garrett Richards | LAA | 7 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 | PHI | A.J. Burnett | 13:05 |
| Jhoulys Chacin* | COL | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | KC | Jason Vargas | 14:10 |
| Andre Rienzo | CHA | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | OAK | Tommy Milone | 15:35 |
| Jake Odorizzi | TB | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | SEA | Brandon Maurer | 15:40 |
| Doug Fister* | WAS | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 9 | AZ | Brandon McCarthy | 15:40 |
| Julio Teheran | ATL | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | SF | Madison Bumgarner | 15:45 |
| Corey Kluber | CLE | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 0 | TOR | Dustin McGowan | 19:07 |
| Masahiro Tanaka | NYA | 10 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 8 | NYN | Rafael Montero* | 19:10 |
| Ian Kennedy | SD | 8 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 9 | CIN | Johnny Cueto | 19:10 |
| Felix Doubront | BOS | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | MIN | Kevin Correia | 20:10 |
| Francisco Liriano | PIT | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8 | MIL | Wily Peralta | 20:10 |
| Nick Tepesch* | TEX | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | HOU | Scott Feldman | 20:10 |
| Jason Hammel | CHN | 5 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 10 | STL | Michael Wacha | 20:15 |
| Anthony DeSclafani* | MIA | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 0 | LAN | Paul Maholm | 22:10 |
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.
EAST COAST BIAS! Despite the well known fact that when dealing with sabermetricians there is always the risk of weirdo equations, a simple adding approach seems to establish that the Pirates/Brewers game scores higher than the ever fascinating New York vs. New Yourk matchup. Plus you completely ignore beanball factors and the likely appearance of Hank the Dog.