One Night Only: Hot Game Previews for June 8th

Look into the eyes of a Cubs fan.

This edition of One Night Only contains:

1. An experiment. Instead of selected previews, the author has briefly previewed every single game.

2. Also, per usual, Pitcher and Team NERD scores for every one of tonight’s games.

3. A pioneer’s spirit.

American League
Minnesota (0) at Cleveland (10) | 12:05 ET
This game is the David of Joy versus the Goliath of Joy, were Goliath to’ve won.

Oakland (1) at Baltimore (4) | 19:05 ET
Rob Neyer thinks Josh Outman is the best possible name for a pitcher. Question: is Rob Neyer the best possible name for a baseballing journalist?

Boston (7) at New York (7) | 19:05 ET
The knuckleball bonus for NERD is knuckleball usage (in percent) times five.

Detroit (2) at Texas (9) | 20:05 ET
Alexi Ogando is dealing surprisingly well with left-handed batters: 45.2 IP, 178 TBF, 5.91 K/9, 1.58 BB/9, 34.8% GB, 3.86 xFIP.

Toronto (8) at Kansas City (10) | 20:10 ET
(The never not surprising) Jose Bautista Watch: 244 PA, .348/.500/.727 (.331 BABIP), .513 wOBA, 235 wRC+, 5.0 WAR.

Seattle (2) at Chicago (2) | 20:10 ET
Jeff Sullivan presents The Amazing Chone Figgins.

Tampa Bay (6) at Los Angeles (6) | 22:05 ET
In our society today, you can just watch highlights of Peter Bourjos whenever. (Take that, past!)

National League
Chicago (0) at Cincinnati (8) | 12:35 ET
The Cubs are the National League’s answer to the Twins right now in terms of Depressing Factor (DF).

Washington (5) at San Francisco (5) | 15:45 ET
Drinking game idea: drink anytime a broadcaster mentions Yunesky Maya’s tutelage under fellow Cuban Livan Hernandez.

Colorado (7) at San Diego (5) | 18:35 ET
Charlie Blackmon in his debut: 0-for-3 with two fly outs and a ground out.

Arizona (10) at Pittsburgh (5) | 19:05 ET
“Zach Duke facing his old club” isn’t the dictionary definition of high drama.

Los Angeles (3) at Philadelphia (2) | 19:05 ET
Ten of 161 qualified pitchers have a 10 NERD. Cole Hamels is one of them.

Atlanta (7) at Florida (4) | 19:10 ET
The Marlins average 16,714 per game in a stadium designed for somewhere between 50,000 – 75,000.

St. Louis (5) at Houston (4) | 20:05 ET
Jaime Garcia (10) versus Bud Norris (9) is tonight’s best picthing matchup. Both pitchers throw an above-average number of strikes and both induce a considerably above average rate of whiffs.

New York (4) at Milwaukee (8) | 20:10 ET
Yuniesky Betancourt‘s rest-of-season ZiPS: .265/.292/.391 (.276 BABIP), .297 wOBA. Newly acquired Josh Wilson’s: .245/.294/.357 (.292 BABIP), .293 wOBA.

All the Games
These games are very likely playing at some kind of sporty channel near you.

pNERD = Pitcher NERD
tNERD = Team NERD
Game = Time and Average NERD for Game
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD of 5 (or 10 for debuts)