NERD Game Scores for Wednesday, May 7, 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
San Francisco at Pittsburgh | 12:35 ET
Tim Lincecum (31.2 IP, 89 xFIP-, -0.1 WAR) faces Gerrit Cole (39.0 IP, 94 xFIP-, 0.1 WAR). The latter has recorded the fourth-highest average fastball velocity thus far amongst qualified starters, at 95.5 mph. The former is once against conceding more runs (over 1.5 of them every nine innings) than his defense-independent numbers would suggest. Note with regard to this game that it will be played in front of probably the league’s most excellent center-field camera. Also note that it’s possible the Giants broadcast will opt for the off-center camera instead.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: San Francisco Radio or Television.

MLB.TV Free Game
Baltimore at Tampa Bay | 19:10 ET
Bud Norris (29.2 IP, 107 xFIP-, 0.2 WAR) faces Cesar Ramos (21.2 IP, 133 xFIP-, 0.1 WAR). At 9.1%, the Baltimores currently possess the worst odds of winning the AL East — which is very much the highest figure for a team with its division’s worst odds. In fact, every division besides the AL East features at least one club with less than a 1% chance of winning same.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Tampa Bay Radio.

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
Tim Lincecum	SF	6	7	8	8	9	PIT	Gerrit Cole	12:35
Zack Wheeler	NYN	7	3	5	9	2	MIA	Tom Koehler	12:40
Dan Haren	LAN	6	5	7	5	10	WAS	St. Strasburg	13:05
Bronson Arroyo	AZ	3	4	5	6	8	MIL	Wily Peralta	13:10
Felix Hernandez	SEA	8	4	6	4	6	OAK	Dan Straily	15:35
Erasmo Ramirez	SEA	4	4	4	4	5	OAK	Undecided*	TBD
James Shields	KC	5	2	5	3	7	SD	Andrew Cashner	15:40
Ricky Nolasco	MIN	3	4	5	5	7	CLE	Danny Salazar	19:05
Cliff Lee	PHI	9	3	6	6	4	TOR	Mark Buehrle	19:07
Brad Peacock*	HOU	5	7	6	4	8	DET	Rick Porcello	19:08
Bud Norris	BAL	4	3	4	7	3	TB	Cesar Ramos*	19:10
Mike Leake	CIN	4	3	3	3	1	BOS	Jake Peavy	19:10
Adam Wainwright	STL	5	3	6	7	7	ATL	Mike Minor*	19:10
Jorge de la Rosa	COL	4	8	4	2	3	TEX	Colby Lewis	20:05
Travis Wood	CHN	5	5	3	3	0	CHA	John Danks	20:10
Vidal Nuno*	NYA	4	5	4	10	1	LAA	Hector Santiago	22:05

To learn how Game NERD Scores are calculated, click here.
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.