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

Toronto at Oakland | 22:05 ET

Doubront (14.0 IP, 77 xFIP-) vs. Gray (129.2 IP, 86 xFIP-)

While the author is unable to cite any such documents specifically, reason dictates that there are probably hundreds or even thousands of tirelessly researched and scrupulously peer-reviewed scientific papers all of which conclude that human decision-making is a largely arbitrary endeavor. Today, instead of continuing to ignore this difficult truth, the reader has an opportunity to embrace it — by watching Toronto left-hander Felix Doubront pitch for some reason. Doubront has produced two curious starts for the Blue Jays, conceding just a single walk against 52 batters while recording a 69.0% ground-ball rate — this, however, while also allowing eight runs over just 11.2 innings. A compelling blend of success and failure, that. As to whether it’s a reason for watching Doubront, however — let’s regard this concern as moot for the moment.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Toronto Radio.

Two Brief Notes

Perpetually Looping Video: Joe Ross’s Slider

Yesterday, as part of Tuesday’s most highly rated game, Washington right-hander Joe Ross produced a 4:0 strikeout-to-walk ratio against 25 batters over 6.1 innings (box). Here’s footage of three of those strikeouts, all recorded by means of Ross’s slider.

Today’s Free Game

Today’s free game features San Francisco at San Diego, starts at 15:40 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.

* = Fewer than 10 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.