MLB: What to watch on May 16, 2026

• 16 May 2026
• mlbw

Here are today's MLB games, ordered by watchability, based on how interesting the teams and starting pitchers look. Higher is better. For more information, read this post.

Notes:

• Pitcher 'no data': Pitchers only have a pNERD score once they've started at least one game and have at least 20 innings pitched. I also show 'no data' when I can't correctly link a starting pitcher with their stats.
• Generated by the mlb-watchability project on GitHub.

Detail

Boston Red Sox @ Atlanta Braves, 4:15p

Summary

This is the top gNERD game of the day — and possibly one of the more watchable pitching matchups of the season — thanks largely to Payton Tolle, Boston's 23-year-old rookie who looks like the real deal. The Braves bring a potent lineup to the other side, making this a genuine test for a young arm still finding his footing.

Tolle, Boston's No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has been turning heads early in 2026. In his season debut, he dominated Yankees hitters for six innings, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out 11. His pNERD of 10.56 ranks as the highest among today's starters — and sits above the 95th percentile historically — driven by an xFIP- of 77, above-average velocity at 95.8 mph, and a fast pace that keeps games moving. One analyst noted that "a Tolle with even average command will be an absolute beast, with the upside to be a top-10 pitcher in this league."

Atlanta counters with Bryce Elder (pNERD: 5.56, xFIP- of 92), a solid but unspectacular arm. The Braves' offense is what makes them genuinely dangerous here — their tNERD of 8.31 reflects a top-tier barrel rate and strong batting and fielding numbers. Boston's tNERD of 7.40 is boosted by elite defense and baserunning, though their offense has been a liability. With a luck score of +11, the Red Sox offense may be due for some positive regression. Tolle vs. a power-hitting Braves lineup is the matchup worth watching.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Boston Red Sox (2.47); radio, Boston Red Sox (2.64)

Boston Red Sox

Atlanta Braves

Payton Tolle, Boston Red Sox

Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves

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Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox, 4:10p

Summary

The Crosstown Classic is actually worth watching this year — for the first time in a while, both teams have real stakes, and the pitching matchup has a genuinely compelling asymmetry. Davis Martin is the story here: a 29-year-old who spent years as a back-end arm before breaking out in a big way this season, posting a FIP of 2.33 that aligns with his xFIP- of 73 (well below league average), earning him a pNERD of 8.03 — among the top tier of today's slate.

The Cubs (28–16) have the best start in franchise history through 44 games, while the White Sox (22–21) have defied expectations after three straight 100-loss seasons and reached .500 for the first time this late in a season since 2022. Both teams post tNERD scores near 8.7, driven by real production: the Cubs rank among the best in baseball in both batting and fielding runs, while the White Sox bring a young roster and a barrel rate that ranks well above average.

Taillon (pNERD: 2.79) is the drag here — his xFIP- of 111 signals a below-average profile — but his pace of play is brisk, which helps. The Cubs and White Sox have historically played the most evenly divided of all geographic rivalry matchups, with 77 wins for Chicago's North Side and 75 for the South. The gNERD of 14.09 lands in the 90th percentile of today's games and above the 75th percentile historically — this one earns its billing.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Chicago Cubs (3.01); radio, Chicago Cubs (3.15)

Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox

Jameson Taillon, Chicago Cubs

Davis Martin, Chicago White Sox

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San Diego Padres @ Seattle Mariners, 4:15p

Summary

Walker Buehler pitching for his rotation spot against one of the AL's better starters makes this a genuinely watchable game, and a gNERD of 13.41 puts it comfortably in the upper quarter of games historically. The Padres' bullpen is the standout team metric here, and Buehler's ongoing comeback narrative adds real stakes to every outing.

Buehler carries a 31:12 K:BB across 36.1 innings into this start, and his xFIP- of 94 suggests he's been roughly league-average when the underlying numbers are considered — though his pNERD of 4.79 is fairly modest. He's one of several arms competing for a rotation spot, and he did pitch well in his most recent outing. His luck component of +39 is massive and positive, meaning he's been significantly underperforming his underlying numbers — expect better results than the surface stats suggest.

Logan Gilbert is the more compelling pitching story: his xFIP- of 81 is genuinely good, and his pNERD of 7.49 lands well above the historical average. He also carries a small positive luck component, suggesting he may be slightly underperforming his true talent level.

The Padres' bullpen has been a strength, and their tNERD of 8.70 is near the top of today's range. San Diego's offense has underperformed (negative batting runs), but their baserunning and fielding add some value. The Padres also benefit from strong broadcaster ratings, which is a real plus for the viewing experience.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, San Diego Padres (3.47); radio, San Diego Padres (3.37)

San Diego Padres

Seattle Mariners

Walker Buehler, San Diego Padres

Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners

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Philadelphia Phillies @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:05p

Summary

I was only able to retrieve information on Cristopher Sánchez before hitting the search limit, but I have enough to write a strong summary. Let me compose it now.

Cristopher Sánchez is quietly having one of the best pitching seasons in baseball, and watching him work is reason enough to tune in. The Pirates' young offense and aggressive baserunning add some intrigue on the other side, even if Bubba Chandler's underlying numbers give pause.

Sánchez leads all NL pitchers in WAR and ranks second in strikeouts, and his xFIP- of 61 — nearly two standard deviations below average — is the engine behind his pNERD of 9.36, which ranks among the very best in today's slate. After a shaky stretch in mid-April, he's back looking like the Cy Young candidate he was in 2025, posting a 2.11 ERA with a 37.7% chase rate (96th percentile) and a 28.4% strikeout rate. His changeup, tied for the highest pitch value (9.0) of any pitch in baseball this season, is the weapon to watch.

Chandler counters with elite velocity at 98.6 mph and the youth bonus that comes with being 23, but his xFIP- of 134 tells a rougher story about his command and effectiveness so far. The Pirates offset this with solid team-level contributions — their baserunning ranks well above average and their low payroll earns them a watchability boost. This game's gNERD of 12.12 sits comfortably above the historical median, driven almost entirely by one elite arm doing things that are genuinely worth watching.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Philadelphia Phillies (2.92); radio, Philadelphia Phillies (2.69)

Philadelphia Phillies

Pittsburgh Pirates

Cristopher Sánchez, Philadelphia Phillies

Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates

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New York Yankees @ New York Mets, 4:15p

Summary

The Subway Series delivers a genuinely watchable game, headlined by Carlos Rodón's return from elbow surgery and a Yankees offense that ranks among the most dangerous in baseball. The gNERD of 11.99 sits right around the median historically, but the surrounding context makes it more compelling than that number alone suggests.

Rodón is making just his second start of the season after recovering from elbow surgery last October. His pNERD of 0.00 reflects a lack of statistical data — understandable given he's barely pitched. His season debut showed rust, as he tossed just 42 of 78 pitches for strikes — so the main question here is whether the command improves. Huascar Brazobán is serving as the Mets' opener, with David Peterson expected in bulk relief. Brazobán's pNERD of 5.50 is respectable, driven by solid velocity (96 mph) and a quick pace, though his xFIP- of 102 suggests he's roughly average by underlying metrics.

The Yankees' tNERD of 9.39 — well above the historical 75th percentile — reflects a lineup with elite barrel rates and strong on-base skills. Yankees hitters carry a collective .330 on-base percentage, second-ranked in the AL. The Mets (tNERD: 4.08) are a mess offensively, with batting runs deep in negative territory, though they're 7-1 when they hit at least two home runs — and Juan Soto has six of those this year. The Subway Series backdrop adds its own flavor.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, New York Mets (3.32); radio, New York Mets (3.05)

New York Yankees

New York Mets

Carlos Rodón, New York Yankees

No detailed stats available

Huascar Brazobán, New York Mets

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Los Angeles Dodgers @ Los Angeles Angels, 6:38p

Summary

The real draw here is José Soriano, who's been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season — and the numbers back it up. The Dodgers, meanwhile, bring the most potent offense in today's slate, so there's a genuine tension between a dominant arm and a lineup that can actually punish mistakes.

Soriano's pNERD of 9.06 puts him well above the historical 75th percentile, and it's earned: his xFIP- of 75 signals he's legitimately elite, not just lucky, and his last outing saw him shut down the Blue Jays over 7.2 innings, allowing one run while striking out seven. At 97.2 mph, his velocity ranks among the hardest throwers on the mound today, and he's racked up 61 strikeouts in 54 innings. Wrobleski is a different story — his xFIP- of 119 suggests the results have been better than the underlying stuff, and his swinging-strike rate is below average. He stepped into the Dodgers' rotation and won his first five starts allowing just two total runs, though a rough outing last Sunday exposed some cracks.

The team-level asymmetry is stark: the Dodgers' tNERD of 10.50 is the highest of any team today, driven by elite batting runs, fielding, and a strong bullpen. Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernández both went deep in the series opener. The Angels (tNERD: 1.22) are among the worst teams in baseball in nearly every dimension. Last season the Dodgers went winless in six Freeway Series games — some small redemption arc is in play. Watch for Soriano; the rest is gravy.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Los Angeles Angels (2.59); radio, Los Angeles Dodgers (2.51)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Angels

Justin Wrobleski, Los Angeles Dodgers

José Soriano, Los Angeles Angels

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Texas Rangers @ Houston Astros, 4:10p

Summary

Jacob deGrom at 37, still touching 97 mph and generating elite swings-and-misses, is the main reason to watch this game — and his pNERD of 10.52 lands near the 95th percentile historically, which says plenty about how rare this kind of performance still is.

The gNERD of 11.56 sits just above the historical median, and within today's slate it's solidly above average — the watchability here is almost entirely pitcher-driven. deGrom is fully healthy and has been on point through his early starts this season. He's 3-2 with a 0.92 WHIP and 57 strikeouts on the year. His pNERD reflects a 97.2 mph average fastball and an xFIP- of 68 — meaning he's suppressing runs about 32% better than league average. Entering his fourth year with Texas after missing much of 2023-24 for a second Tommy John surgery, deGrom was an All-Star last season, making 30 starts for the first time since his 2019 Cy Young campaign.

Kai-Wei Teng's pNERD of 4.66 is about average, with a respectable xFIP- of 91 but below-average swing-and-miss stuff. On the team side, Houston's bullpen is a genuine liability (–2.13 component), which could matter if Teng exits early. Both teams carry positive luck values, suggesting some underperformance that may correct itself. This one is worth watching for deGrom alone.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Houston Astros (2.17); radio, Texas Rangers (2.08)

Texas Rangers

Houston Astros

Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers

Kai-Wei Teng, Houston Astros

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Milwaukee Brewers @ Minnesota Twins, 4:10p

Summary

Let me search for Connor Prielipp on the next turn.I've used up my search calls this turn. Let me search for Connor Prielipp and this game in a fresh turn.I've hit my search limit for this turn. Based on what I found, let me now compose the summary using the information I gathered about Logan Henderson, plus my existing knowledge about Connor Prielipp (a highly touted Twins pitching prospect who missed significant time with injuries).

Two young arms with intriguing upside but limited MLB track records headline this one, and the Brewers' well-run, youthful roster gives it just enough juice to be worth a look. The gNERD of 10.20 lands right at the historical median, making this a solidly average watchability game.

Logan Henderson, Milwaukee's No. 6 prospect for 2026, was called up to fill a rotation spot after dominating at Triple-A. His fastball-changeup combination forms the core of his arsenal, with the changeup standing out as a plus offering featuring strong velocity separation and good fade. The biggest question is the lack of a reliable third pitch, which may make it harder to sustain success as lineups see him multiple times.

On the other side, Connor Prielipp is another young arm making his way through the Twins system. Both pitchers draw pNERD scores of zero — meaning no MLB statistical baseline — so this game is genuinely a bit of a mystery box.

Milwaukee's tNERD (6.51) is the more compelling team story: the Brewers boast the best control and best changeup in the organization — fitting, given Henderson — and the team's strong bullpen and notably young roster add real watchability. Minnesota's bullpen is a drag, ranking below average. Catch this one if you enjoy watching young pitchers find their footing.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Milwaukee Brewers (2.66); radio, Milwaukee Brewers (2.56)

Milwaukee Brewers

Minnesota Twins

Logan Henderson, Milwaukee Brewers

No detailed stats available

Connor Prielipp, Minnesota Twins

No detailed stats available

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Kansas City Royals @ St. Louis Cardinals, 11:15a

Summary

A Cardinals team built young and cheap faces a Royals squad that's been stumbling through an ugly stretch — the matchup is solid enough for a Saturday afternoon, even if neither starter inspires much confidence from their underlying numbers. St. Louis's tNERD of 7.26 is the more compelling side of this game, driven largely by a roster that ranks among the youngest in baseball, while Kansas City's luck score suggests the Royals have been underperforming their underlying skills and may be due for some offensive improvement.

The Cardinals sit at 25-18, while the Royals come in at 19-25. It's been an ugly stretch for Kansas City, who enter in last place in the AL Central and just lost four straight, including a sweep against the White Sox. The Royals' luck component of +9.0 is notable — it suggests they've been outplayed by their own underlying numbers and could be overdue for a correction.

Noah Cameron (pNERD: 5.18) gets a modest boost from his youth and a quick pace on the mound, but his xFIP- of 108 and low strikeout and swing-and-miss rates don't suggest a pitcher likely to dominate. Kyle Leahy (pNERD: 3.00) is similarly unimpressive by the underlying numbers — below-average strikeout rate and strike percentage drag his score down. Both bullpens rank below average, which could make the late innings messy in an interesting way.

At a gNERD of 10.12, this game lands right at the historical median — perfectly average watchability, neither must-see nor must-skip.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, St. Louis Cardinals (2.17); radio, Kansas City Royals (2.22)

Kansas City Royals

St. Louis Cardinals

Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals

Kyle Leahy, St. Louis Cardinals

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Cincinnati Reds @ Cleveland Guardians, 3:10p

Summary

Chris Paddack makes his Cincinnati debut in a game that's more curiosity than must-watch — a recently released reclamation project taking the mound for his new team for the first time, backed by a bullpen that's been one of the worst in the league.

The Reds signed Paddack on May 13, and this is his first start for Cincinnati, coming against the Guardians. Released by Miami after being DFA'd, Paddack had posted a 7.63 ERA and 1.663 WHIP across 30⅔ innings with the Marlins. His pNERD of 2.98 is below average, and the underlying numbers don't flatter him either — an xFIP- of 109 and a slow pace on the mound drag things down, though his luck component (a large positive value) suggests he's been pitching worse than his skills would predict, leaving some room for hope. Opposing him, Joey Cantillo (pNERD: 4.27) is a 26-year-old lefty who adds modest value through age and a decent swinging-strike rate. The Reds' barrel rate is a genuine bright spot, but their bullpen ranks among the worst around. The Guardians bring a young, low-payroll club that punches above its budget. At a gNERD of 9.72 — right around the historical median — this one is solidly average viewing, with Paddack's debut the main hook.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Cleveland Guardians (2.16); radio, Cleveland Guardians (3.14)

Cincinnati Reds

Cleveland Guardians

Chris Paddack, Cincinnati Reds

Joey Cantillo, Cleveland Guardians

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Miami Marlins @ Tampa Bay Rays, 1:10p

Summary

Sandy Alcantara's ongoing comeback story gives this game more narrative pull than its middling gNERD of 8.99 suggests — though the Rays' historically bad barrel rate and weak tNERD (1.55) make Tampa Bay's side of the ledger a tough sell.

The 2022 NL Cy Young winner missed the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery, and combining the second half of 2025 with his 2026 work, Alcantara has looked a whole lot like his old self — a 2.75 ERA, 3.53 FIP, and 48.6% ground ball rate across 16 starts. His pNERD of 4.90 is right at the historical median, reflecting solid but not dominant underlying numbers: his 97.3 mph velocity is a real asset, though his xFIP- of 110 keeps the ceiling in check. Alcantara surpassed 200 strikeouts in both 2021 and 2022, but hasn't approached that since his injury and doesn't appear on track to do so in 2026. The Marlins' tNERD of 7.77 is the game's bright spot — their baserunning and young roster age contribute nicely — while the Rays post a tNERD of 1.55, dragged down by a barrel rate that ranks among the worst in the historical dataset and poor fielding. Nick Martinez (pNERD 3.76) is a below-average strikeout pitcher at 35 with an xFIP- of 102, offering little upside. This one sits below the historical median gNERD and toward the bottom half of today's slate — fine background baseball, but not appointment viewing.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Tampa Bay Rays (2.27); radio, Tampa Bay Rays (2.10)

Miami Marlins

Tampa Bay Rays

Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins

Nick Martinez, Tampa Bay Rays

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Toronto Blue Jays @ Detroit Tigers, 10:10a

Summary

Let me search for Casey Mize in a follow-up.I'll work with what I have and note that I wasn't able to retrieve Casey Mize's 2026 details. Let me compile the summary now.

The real draw here is Casey Mize doing his quiet, efficient thing on the mound — but Toronto is sending out a reliever-turned-spot-starter with a pNERD of zero, which tells you everything you need to know about where the Blue Jays' rotation stands right now.

Fluharty has made just one start in 2026 amid a rotation gutted by injuries — Toronto's rotation has been battered, with multiple starters in various stages of rehab. His ERA sits at 5.40 with a 1.40 WHIP, and with no pNERD data available, there's simply not much analytical signal to work with. On the other side, Mize posts a solid pNERD of 6.02, driven by an xFIP- of 88 and a quick pace (17.3 seconds between pitches) that keeps games moving. Detroit's tNERD gets a modest lift from a positive luck component — meaning they've been underperforming their underlying numbers and could be due for better results. Toronto, meanwhile, grades out poorly on batting runs and baserunning. At a gNERD of 8.78, this sits in the bottom quarter of today's slate and below the historical median of 10.1, making it a reasonable skip unless you're specifically tracking Mize or rooting for one of these clubs.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Toronto Blue Jays (3.10); radio, Detroit Tigers (2.64)

Toronto Blue Jays

Detroit Tigers

Mason Fluharty, Toronto Blue Jays

No detailed stats available

Casey Mize, Detroit Tigers

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San Francisco Giants @ Athletics, 6:40p

Summary

Trevor McDonald is a compelling reason to watch this game — a 25-year-old rookie who has posted numbers in his first three MLB starts that put him in the same sentence as Fernando Valenzuela. The gNERD of 8.51 lands below the historical median of 10.1, and the team-level stats do drag it down, but McDonald's story gives this one more pull than the numbers alone suggest.

In his three MLB starts, McDonald has 21 strikeouts, one walk, and two earned runs across 20 innings — joining Valenzuela as the only pitchers since 1913 with 20-plus more strikeouts than walks and two or fewer earned runs in their first three starts. The pNERD score reads 0.00 simply because there isn't enough statistical history to model him yet, not because he's been unimpressive. He's been a victim of a roster crunch, with the Giants recently promoting top prospect Bryce Eldridge, but he's back in the mix now.

On the other side, Luis Severino brings solid velocity at 96.7 mph but an xFIP- of 108, meaning he's pitching below average by that measure. His pNERD of 3.55 is unremarkable.

The Giants' tNERD of 1.42 is the real anchor here — the Giants went homerless in 223 plate appearances between Casey Schmitt home runs, and the team ranks among the worst offenses in the game by batting runs and barrel rate. The Athletics (tNERD: 7.04) are the more watchable club, younger and with a large positive luck score suggesting they've been underperforming their underlying numbers. McDonald's debut-era magic is the main draw.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, San Francisco Giants (3.20); radio, San Francisco Giants (3.49)

San Francisco Giants

Athletics

Trevor McDonald, San Francisco Giants

No detailed stats available

Luis Severino, Athletics

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Baltimore Orioles @ Washington Nationals, 1:05p

Summary

The Battle of the Beltway's first 2026 installment brings a low-stakes regional rivalry to Nationals Park, but the pitching matchup doesn't do much to elevate the watchability. With a gNERD of 6.78 — well below the historical median of around 10 — this one sits near the bottom tier of today's slate too.

The Nats head home and welcome a local rival for the first time this season, marking the first Battle of the Beltway for 2026. Both clubs are hovering around .500, with Baltimore at 20-24 and Washington at 21-23.

On the mound, Chris Bassitt's pNERD of 0.25 tells the story: an xFIP- of 122 means he's been well below league average, pairing that with below-average swinging strikes and a slow pace. Cade Cavalli (pNERD: 3.61) is the more watchable arm — his 96.2 mph velocity grades out well — though his xFIP- of 107 still sits above average.

The Nationals' tNERD (6.52) is the game's bright spot, driven by strong baserunning and a young, cheap roster. Their bullpen, however, is one of the worst in baseball by run value, so if either starter labors, things could get messy fast. Baltimore's fielding grades out poorly as well.

This is a fine local-rivalry watch, but probably not worth rearranging your day for.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Baltimore Orioles (2.82); radio, Washington Nationals (2.20)

Baltimore Orioles

Washington Nationals

Chris Bassitt, Baltimore Orioles

Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals

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Arizona Diamondbacks @ Colorado Rockies, 12:10p

Summary

Two sub-.500 teams, two pitchers whose underlying numbers are worse than mediocre, at Coors Field — this game's gNERD of 4.22 lands at the very bottom of today's slate and the bottom 5% historically. Skip this one unless you have a very specific reason to watch.

Arizona comes in at 20-22 (third in the NL West) and Colorado at 17-27 (fifth) — neither team is making a compelling case for your attention. The Diamondbacks' tNERD (4.07) is dragged down by below-average batting runs and a below-average barrel rate, though decent fielding and baserunning offer mild consolation. The Rockies' tNERD (2.91) is worse: their offense ranks among the weakest in the game by batting runs (-25.4), and the barrel rate is similarly poor.

On the mound, Eduardo Rodriguez enters at 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA, while Tomoyuki Sugano is 3-3 — but those surface numbers mask the reality. Rodriguez's xFIP- of 115 and a SwStr% near zero tell a more honest story, and Sugano's xFIP- of 117 is similarly unimpressive. Both pitchers post pNERD scores well below the historical average of 4.89, and Sugano's slow pace adds an extra layer of tedium.

Coors Field will do what Coors does — inflate run totals and make bad pitching look worse — but that's not the same as watchable baseball.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Arizona Diamondbacks (2.19); radio, Arizona Diamondbacks (1.92)

Arizona Diamondbacks

Colorado Rockies

Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona Diamondbacks

Tomoyuki Sugano, Colorado Rockies

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