NERD Game Scores: Young Joe Ross Viewing Opportunity
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
New York NL at Washington | 19:05 ET
deGrom (113.2 IP, 81 xFIP-) vs. Ross (20.1 IP, 55 xFIP-)
Today represents an excellent one for those interested in observing talented young pitchers. As noted below, both Boston’s Brian Johnson and Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola — in each case, first-round selections who’ve produced promising resumes as professionals — are expected to record their major-league debuts this evening. Of particular note with regard to this featured game, however, is both (a) the success (probably unexpected) that Washington right-hander Joe Ross has already enjoyed against major-league batters and (b) how the contest also features conspicuously talented and hard-throwing New York right-hander Jacob deGrom. In the end, however, the reader can’t go wrong with any of the three games mentioned here. Different than actual life, that, within the harrowing confines of which it’s impossible not to go constantly.
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: New York NL Television.
Two Brief Notes
Debuts: Starting Pitchers Brian Johnson and Aaron Nola
Both Boston’s Brian Johnson and Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola are expected to record their major-league debuts tonight. The former was ranked eighth among Red Sox prospects by Kiley McDaniel this past offseason and 104th among all prospects; the latter, third among Phillies prospects and 51st among all prospects.
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Seattle at Detroit, starts at 19:08 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wei-Yin Chen | BAL | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | NYA | Nathan Eovaldi | 19:05 |
| Jacob deGrom | NYN | 10 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 10 | WAS | Joe Ross | 19:05 |
| Nate Karns | TB | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 10 | PHI | Aaron Nola* | 19:05 |
| Taijuan Walker | SEA | 10 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | DET | Shane Greene | 19:08 |
| Jason Hammel | CHN | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | CIN | Raisel Iglesias | 19:10 |
| Brett Anderson | LAN | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | ATL | Alex Wood | 19:10 |
| Brian Johnson* | BOS | 9 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 4 | HOU | Vince Velasquez | 20:10 |
| Danny Salazar | CLE | 10 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 4 | MIL | Matt Garza | 20:10 |
| Gerrit Cole | PIT | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 2 | KC | Jason Vargas | 20:10 |
| Michael Wacha | STL | 9 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 7 | CHA | Carlos Rodon | 20:10 |
| Matt Harrison* | TEX | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | COL | Kyle Kendrick | 20:40 |
| Mat Latos | MIA | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | AZ | J.my Hellickson | 21:40 |
| Kyle Gibson | MIN | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 | LAA | Matt Shoemaker | 22:05 |
| Mark Buehrle | TOR | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | OAK | Ken. Graveman | 22:05 |
| Chris Heston | SF | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | SD | Od. Despaigne | 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.
J.my Hellickson? Kids these days! It’s “J’my H’ll’ckson” for the rest of us.
Could Shane Greene have his NERD score increased if he continues to be The Worst? Like, “Hey, let’s watch and see how bad Shane Greene gets blowed up today!”
This would be interesting. It stands to reason that at a certain level it becomes interesting to watch a game if the pitcher is bad enough, due to increased offense and dingers. Perhaps using some sort of quadratic equation or the like when combined with xFIP- would account for the increased watchability on either ends of the spectrum.