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.