NERD Game Scores: Johnny Cueto Perfect Game Watch
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
Cincinnati at San Diego | 15:40 ET
Johnny Cueto (124.1 IP, 80 xFIP-, 2.7 WAR) faces Tyson Ross (107.2 IP, 88 xFIP-, 1.0 WAR). The former, by some combination of skill and good fortune, has conceded the fewest baserunners per inning this season among qualified starters. The club he faces this afternoon, meanwhile, has produced the lowest on-base percentage among major-league clubs — including the lowest road OBP, as well (suggesting that the Padres’ pitcher-friendly home field isn’t entirely responsible for their poor offensive numbers). To the extent that perfect games are unlikely, the probability of Johnny Cueto pitching a perfect game is unlikely. However, that low probability is probably slightly higher today than on most other days.
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Cincinnati Radio.
Two Brief Notes
Regarding Miles Mikolas, Who That Person Is
Contrary to what one might assume given his name, Miles Mikolas is not among the Czech Republic’s most recognized living writers, but rather a right-handed baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers system. Traditionally a reliever, he’s worked in a starting capacity for Triple-A Round Rock since the end of May, and will do so for the parent club today at Baltimore.
Regarding Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Oakland at Detroit, starts at 1:08pm 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wily Peralta | MIL | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | TOR | J.A. Happ | 12:37 |
| Jake Odorizzi | TB | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | NYA | Vidal Nuno | 13:05 |
| Jesse Chavez | OAK | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | DET | Justin Verlander | 13:08 |
| Jason Vargas | KC | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | MIN | Kevin Correia | 13:10 |
| Chris Young | SEA | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 3 | HOU | Brad Peacock | 14:10 |
| Trevor Bauer | CLE | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | LAN | Hyun-Jin Ryu | 15:10 |
| Johnny Cueto | CIN | 8 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 7 | SD | Tyson Ross | 15:40 |
| Tyler Matzek | COL | 3 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 4 | WAS | Doug Fister | 18:05 |
| Chase Anderson | AZ | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | PIT | Charlie Morton | 19:05 |
| Miles Mikolas* | TEX | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | BAL | Chris Tillman | 19:05 |
| Travis Wood | CHN | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | BOS | Brand. Workman | 19:10 |
| Jacob deGrom | NYN | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | ATL | Julio Teheran | 19:10 |
| Cole Hamels | PHI | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | MIA | Tom Koehler | 19:10 |
| Tyler Skaggs | LAA | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | CHA | John Danks | 20:10 |
| Ad’m Wainwright | STL | 7 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | SF | Ryan Vogelsong | 22:15 |
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.
With an average NERD game score of 4 2/3, today is, statiscially, the day to pursue a non-baseball obligation, assuming you live you life by the cumulative quality of baseball you expect to watch on any given day.