One Night Only: Hot Game Previews for April 21st

American singer-songwriter Randy Newman says, “Watch these games.”

This edition of One Night Only contains:

1. Previews for today’s three most interesting games.

2. Updated Team NERD scores and updated ZiPS projections for pitchers (where appropriate).

3. At least one more whimsical comment about American singer-songwriter Randy Newman.

Arizona (10) at Cincinnati (10) | 12:35pm ET
Starting Pitchers
Diamondbacks: Daniel Hudson
177.0 IP, 8.44 K/9, 3.15 BB/9, 3.42 FIP

Reds: Mike Leake
165.2 IP, 6.14 K/9, 3.15 BB/9, 4.17 FIP

The First Thing to Say
The first thing to say about these two teams is that they continue to place among the league leaders in Team NERD. Shockingly, this hasn’t changed since yesterday — i.e. when I said a similar thing.

The Second Thing to Say
The second thing to say about this game is that it presents little in the way of broadcast options, what with Thom Brennaman doing the play-by-play for Cincinnati and Mark Grace doing the color for Arizona.

What a Simile Is
A simile is a metaphor that uses “like” or “as.”

A Simile Concerning Thom Brennaman
Listening to Thom Brennaman is like listening to a horrible bear read its resume aloud.

A Simile Concerning Mark Grace
Listening to Mark Grace is like listening to a dirty bear burp the whole alphabet — the Russian alphabet.

If I Had My Druthers
• There’d be a third broadcast option available for this game.
• It’d feature Norm MacDonald or something doing play-by-play.
• And Mr. Randy Newman on piano!

Two Other Games
Washington (4) at St. Louis (8) | 1:45pm ET
• The Cardinals entered play yesterday as the best offensive team per weighted runs above average, and then scored 11 runs over two games against the Nationals.
• Accordingly, you willn’t be shocked to learn, reader, that the team from St. Louis enters play, once again, with a league-leading offense (24.7 weighted runs above average).
• What you might be shocked to learn is that St. Louis’s starter this afternoon, Kyle Lohse, has been bringing the metaphorical pain so far this season.
• Regard, through three starts: 22.1 IP, 6.45 K/9, 0.81 BB/9, 50.0 GB%, 2.89 xFIP.
• No, that’s not just the booze talking: Lohse has really only walked two people so far on the young season.

Oakland (3) at Seattle (1) | 10:10pm ET
• Brandon McCarthy, starting for the A’s tonight, has had a surprisingly proficient start to the season.
• Regard: 22.0 IP, 5.73 K/9, 0.82 BB/9, 47.9 GB%, 3.02 xFIP.
• This, from a pitcher who’s done this in 394.2 career innings, a lot of it in relief: 6.04 K/9, 3.28 BB/9, 37.1 GB%, 4.78 xFIP.
• So, not as good.
• Other thing: Felix Hernandez, who’s always very good, is pitching for Seattle.