NERD Game Scores: Jordan Zimmermann Competence Update

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
Colorado at Washington | 19:05 ET
Yohan Flande (5.0 IP, 91 xFIP-, 0.0 WAR) faces Jordan Zimmermann (97.2 IP, 84 xFIP-, 2.3 WAR). The latter has produced a park-adjusted xFIP (84 xFIP-), swinging-strike rate (10.9%), overall strike rate (68.4%), and average fastball velocity (93.8 mph) all a standard deviation or better than the mean produced by the 190 pitchers who’ve thrown 20-plus innings this year in a starting capacity. Indeed, that nearly arbitrary statement can be made of only two other pitchers this season: Jose Fernandez and Stephen Strasburg, both of whom are regarded as the hottest possible stuff. Jordan Zimmermann is stuff, too, is the point of this brief paragraph — stuff that’s almost certainly above-average in temperature.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Washington Radio.

Three Brief Notes
Regarding Mookie Betts, His Entire Major-League Career
As opportunistically noted in yesterday’s edition of this same thing, Boston prospect Mookie Betts made his major-league debut on Sunday. He appears likely to add a second such installment tonight at 7:10pm ET at home against the Chicago Nationals.

Regarding Jesse Hahn, His Near Future
San Diego right-hander Jesse Hahn starts tonight, as well — about which young pitcher’s near future the present author recently waxed idly.

Regarding Today’s Free Game
While tomorrow’s free game appears to have been designated already, this is less the case with today’s. At such a time as when it has been designated, it 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
Yohan Flande*	COL	6	9	8	7	9	WAS	J. Zimmermann	19:05
Chris Archer	TB	6	6	4	3	2	NYA	David Phelps	19:05
Joe Saunders	TEX	0	3	2	5	2	BAL	Ubaldo Jimenez	19:05
Scott Kazmir	OAK	6	7	6	4	6	DET	Anibal Sanchez	19:08
Jake Arrieta	CHN	8	5	5	3	2	BOS	Jake Peavy	19:10
Zack Wheeler	NYN	8	3	8	7	9	ATL	Alex Wood	19:10
Danny Duffy	KC	2	5	4	3	6	MIN	Yohan Pino*	20:10
Garrett Richards	LAA	8	6	6	2	4	CHA	Hector Noesi	20:10
Taijuan Walker*	SEA	8	5	7	6	7	HOU	Collin McHugh	20:10
Mat Latos*	CIN	5	3	6	4	9	SD	Jesse Hahn	22:10
Corey Kluber	CLE	9	6	6	5	4	LAN	Dan Haren	22:10

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