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 Milwaukee | 14:10 ET

Jacob deGrom (80.2 IP, 90 xFIP-, 1.3 WAR) faces Jimmy Nelson (16.0 IP, 115 xFIP-, 0.2 WAR). The former, as illustrated by the table below and further supported by this hyperlink to the relevant leaderboard, has recorded the best park-adjusted xFIP among all qualified starters in July so far.

# Name Team G GS IP TBF K% BB% GB% xFIP- 1 Jacob deGrom Mets 4 4 26.0 103 33.0% 4.9% 47.6% 50 2 Tyson Ross Padres 5 5 35.0 133 30.8% 3.8% 51.2% 53 3 Jon Lester Red Sox 4 4 29.0 113 30.1% 2.7% 57.3% 55 4 Stephen Strasburg Nationals 5 5 32.2 132 30.3% 5.3% 44.6% 58 5 Felix Hernandez Mariners 4 4 30.0 111 32.4% 6.3% 61.8% 60

The 26-year-old deGrom faces a Milwaukee club which possesses the highest current odds of winning the NL Central division.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Milwaukee Radio or New York NL Television.

Three Brief Notes

Regarding Jake Peavy, An Undeniable Fact

Right-hander Jake Peavy, very recently acquired by San Francisco from Boston, is scheduled to debut tonight for the former of those clubs.

Regarding Shane Greene, Two of his Virtues as a Pitcher

While Yankees right-hander Shane Greene’s virtues as a person exist largely outside the scope of a post such as this one, two of his virtues as a pitcher are clear: over his 19.0 innings as a starter, he’s recorded just a 79 xFIP- and also an average fastball velocity of 93.4 mph — both above-average figures, those, relative to this season’s population of starting pitchers.

Regarding Today’s Free Game

Today’s free game features Washington at Cincinnati, starts at 1:10pm 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.

To learn how Game NERD Scores are calculated, click here.

* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.