One Night Only: Hot Game Previews for May 4th

Phil Collins is uncommonly excited for Zack Greinke’s Brewer debut.

This edition of One Night Only contains:

1. Expanded previews for three games: Milwaukee at Atlanta, Cleveland at Oakland, and Colorado at Arizona.

2. Pitcher and Team NERD scores for every one of tonight’s games.

3. Entirely relevant and timely pop-culture references.

Milwaukee (8) at Atlanta (4) | 19:10 ET
Starting Pitchers
Brewers: Zack Greinke (N/A)
ZiPS Projection: 223.0 IP, 9.20 K/9, 2.22 BB/9, 0.77 HR/9, 2.88 FIP, 71 FIP-

Braves: Tim Hudson (4)
41.1 IP, 4.35 K/9, 1.52 BB/9, .275 BABIP, 61.2 GB%, 2.7% HR/FB, 3.71 xFIP, 98 xFIP-

What Today Is
Today is Zack Greinke’s first real-live start as a Brewer.

What You’re Feeling
It.

Where You Can Feel It
In the air tonight. Oh Lord. Oh Lord.

An Actual Note About Greinke
In three minor-league rehab appearances, Greinke did this: 10.2 IP, 13 K, 2 BB, 1 HR — i.e. what you’d expect Zack Greinke to do in the minors.

A Note About This Game, Generally
It’s the second game of a doubleheader; therefore, the time is just an approximation.

Cleveland (10) at Oakland (4) | 22:05 ET
Starting Pitchers
Indians: Josh Tomlin (5)
33.0 IP, 4.91 K/9, 2.18 BB/9, .179 BABIP, 40.4 GB%, 13.5% HR/FB, 4.02 xFIP, 100 xFIP-

A’s: Trevor Cahill (7)
38.1 IP, 7.75 K/9, 2.82 BB/9, .264 BABIP, 50.0 GB%, 6.7% HR/FB, 3.11 xFIP, 77 xFIP-

Notes
• If you were to’ve told Cleveland GM Chris Antonetti back in March, “You’ll get six-plus innings of league-average pitching from Josh Tomlin every time he starts,” Antonetti would’ve probably been like, “Awesome.”
• If you were to’ve told Antonetti, “Around, say, May 4th, the Indians will have the highest team WAR (i.e. hitting plus fielding) for every team but the Cardinals,” he’d have probably been like, “That’s excellent what you’re saying, but improbable.”
• If you were to’ve continued, “Actually, I’m not predicting this. I know this. I’m from the future. From May 4th, specifically,” he’d have probably been like, “Please remove yourself from my person.”

Colorado (9) at Arizona (10) | 21:40 ET
Starting Pitchers
Rockies: Jhoulys Chacin (7)
34.0 IP, 6.88 K/9, 2.38 BB/9, .273 BABIP, 60.4 GB%, 17.4% HR/FB, 3.12 xFIP, 82 xFIP-

Diamondbacks: Barry Enright (3)
29.2 IP, 5.46 K/9, 3.34 BB/9, .316 BABIP, 38.0 GB%, 14.3% HR/FB, 4.64 xFIP, 122 xFIP-

Notes
• In his native Venezuela, Jhoulys Chacin’s first name is basically the equivalent of Jim here.
• Strangely, the name Jim in Venezuela isn’t anything like the name Jhoulys in the U.S.
• It’s much more like what Barry is here.
• Barry, as you’ll undoubtedly know, is short for Bareth (short for Fionnbharrth), de Barra, Barrath, Barenth, Barold, Bearrach or Finbarr.
• Totally not according to Wikipedia.

Also Playing
These games are 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)