NERD Game Scores: Houston Against Whichever Team Event
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
Houston at Tampa Bay | 16:10 ET
Keuchel (130.1 IP, 69 xFIP-) vs. Odorizzi (76.2 IP, 93 xFIP-)
It is sometimes said of certain jokes or other forms of copy that they “write themselves.” A regrettable instance of anthropomorphism, this — like all instances of anthropomorphism, that is, which don’t expressly involve a bulldog wearing a monocle and speaking in a posh British accent. Jokes and other forms of copy are incapable of writing themselves for a number of reasons, such as (one) they don’t have hands and (two) also no brain. Were text capable of writing itself, however, it would appear in this exact space and would read something to the effect of “By the methodology utilized by the author, the Houston Astros remain baseball’s most compelling and aesthetically appealing club. Indeed, in addition to their conspicuous youth and strength, the team now also possesses odds of reach the divisional series closer to 50% than any other team.”
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Tampa Bay Radio.
Two Brief Notes
Belated Looping Video: Jose Fernandez, RHP, Miami
Here’s belated, but still improving, footage of Jose Fernandez recording strikeouts by means (first) of his slider and then (second) his changeup on Thursday against Cincinnati.
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Oakland at Cleveland, starts at 18:35 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Buehrle | TOR | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 2 | KC | Chris Young | 14:10 |
| Chris Sale | CHA | 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 | CHN | Jon Lester | 16:05 |
| Alfredo Simon | DET | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | MIN | Phil Hughes | 16:05 |
| Patrick Corbin* | AZ | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 9 | NYN | Matt Harvey | 16:10 |
| Matt Wisler | ATL | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | COL | Jorge de la Rosa | 16:10 |
| Raisel Iglesias | CIN | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | MIA | Adam Conley* | 16:10 |
| Dallas Keuchel | HOU | 8 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 6 | TB | Jake Odorizzi | 16:10 |
| Chris Bassitt | OAK | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 10 | CLE | Carlos Carrasco | 18:35 |
| Ivan Nova | NYA | 0 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 | BOS | Ed. Rodriguez | 19:15 |
| John Lackey | STL | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | PIT | A.J. Burnett | 19:15 |
| J. Zimmermann | WAS | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | BAL | Miguel Gonzalez | 19:15 |
| James Shields | SD | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | TEX | Colby Lewis | 21:05 |
| Dav. Buchanan | PHI | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | SF | Ryan Vogelsong | 22:05 |
| C.J. Wilson | LAA | 4 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | SEA | Hisashi Iwakuma | 22:10 |
| Tay. Jungmann | MIL | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 8 | LAN | Brandon Beachy* | 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.
COOL NAME PROSPECT INFORMATION
The Cardinals have promoted Samuel J. Tuivailala.