In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

Additional Model Predictions ⬇️

NBA Model Predictions- Click Here

NHL Model Predictions- Click Here

There were plenty of model predictions to go around yesterday across the NHL, with our model focusing in on one of those predictions in our Featured Matchup. That prediction went 1-0 overall, and you can see how the rest of the model performed below.

Money Line Predictions: 7-2

Over/Under Predictions: 4-4-1

Puck Line Predictions: 1-8

Featured Matchup: 1-0

13 MLB games are scheduled to take place today. Our model’s predictions for all 13 matchups can be found below.

Philadelphia Phillies @ Washington Nationals

Model Predicts- Phillies ML, OVER 8.5, Phillies -1.5

The Philadelphia Phillies will begin a six-game road trip on Friday night, beginning with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals in our nation’s capital.

Philadelphia enters tonight’s matchup with a 2-4 record, picking up just one win against the Braves and one win against the Reds to begin the season. Washington is also 2-4 in the young season, collecting a win against the Reds and Pirates.

Slow starts have been a common theme for Philadelphia over the last two seasons, but our model believes the Phillies have a great chance to win tonight in a high-scoring contest. Let’s take a look at why that is.

Philadelphia Phillies

• Another sluggish start to season

  • Have gone 2-4 in first six game vs Braves and Reds

  • Own -14 run differential in that six-game stretch

• Offensive struggles have been main reason for slow start

  • Rank 21st in wRC+ (81), 24th in BABIP (.267)

  • Striking out in bunches (24.5% K rate), but generating walks at solid clip (10.0% walk rate)

• Starting pitcher- Aaron Nola

  • Allowed 12 hits and seven runs across 4.1 innings in first start of season

  • Vulnerability to barrel leads to homers- 8.3% Barrel rate last season, already allowed two home runs this year

Washington Nationals

• Enter tonight off two series losses

  • Went 1-2 vs Reds and Pirates

  • -11 run differential in that six-game stretch

• Pitching staff has been horrific

  • Starters- 7.94 ERA, 37.5% ground ball rate

  • Relievers- 4.81 ERA, 43.7% ground ball rate

• Starting pitcher- Patrick Corbin

  • Struggled in first start- seven hits, four runs, two home runs across 4.1 innings

  • 6.16 xERA and only 15.7% strikeout rate last season

What’s the Play?

The struggles on the mound have been evident for both teams early on, and as a result we agree with our model that the over is a great play here.

Philadelphia’s offense has been bad, but Corbin and Washington’s bullpen provide the Phillies with a great chance to get back on track. Corbin’s 15.7% strikeout rate last season went alongside a 9.3% barrel rate, showing that opposing hitters are sizing him up often. Those trends have continued into this season, as struck out just 11.1% of batters he faced and surrendered two homers.

However, we should expect Washington to get some runs too, as Nola is vulnerable to home runs and and Philadelphia’s bullpen owns a 7.99 ERA this season, the worst in the MLB (Fangraphs). Back the over here.

The Play: Over 8.5 (-115)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Baltimore Orioles- 4-2 overall this season, 52-30 as the away team last season

• Cincinnati Reds- 4-2 overall this season, 2-1 as the home team

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Washington Nationals- Over is 5-1 this season, 2-1 as the home team

• San Francisco Giants- Over is 7-0 this season

Run Line Trends ➕➖

• Atlanta Braves- Run line is 3-2 as a favorite this season

🏟 A’s to play in Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas. The Oakland Athletics will play their home games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento for the 2025-27 seasons before relocating to Las Vegas. There is an option for them to extend their stay for a fourth season at Sutter Health Park, which is currently the home of the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The move comes after the A's explored several options for a temporary home, including the Oakland Coliseum, due to difficulties in reaching an agreement with Oakland city officials.

🤕 Eury Pérez to undergo Tommy John surgery. Miami Marlins pitcher Eury Pérez will undergo Tommy John surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2024 season at least, as confirmed by team president Peter Bendix. Pérez, 20, was placed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation after tests initially didn't reveal any structural damage, but subsequent discomfort led to the decision for surgery. Pérez's absence adds to the Marlins' pitching woes, with key starters Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, and Braxton Garrett already sidelined.

Today’s trivia requires you to dig into multiple pockets of your brain, testing your knowledge of recent events as well as those that happened decades ago.

See how many of the below questions you can get correct. Answers are provided at the end of the newsletter.

Question #1- Who was the last NBA player to be drafted out of high school, which came in the 2005 draft?

Question #2- What Denver Broncos wide receiver led the NFL in receiving yards during the 2010 season, recording 1,448 in total?

Question #3- NHL legend Wayne Gretzky played on four NHL teams in his career- the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, and what other team?

Anyone know what has happened on April 5th throughout history? We didn’t have a clue either, but it appears that it has been a busy day.

On April 5th…

2005- The Washington Nationals play their inaugural season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. The game was notable because it was the Nationals were the first team since the Washington Senators in 1971 to represent the nation’s capital. However, Philadelphia would spoil the season opener, beating Washington 8-4.

2014- The Minnesota Twins defeat the Cleveland Indians 7-3. The victory was historic for Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, as it gave him 1,000 wins for his managerial career. Gardenhire would end his career with 1,200 wins, which ranks him 46th on the all-time list.

2023- The 84th NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship is contested between the University of Connecticut and San Diego State. The Huskies took down the Aztecs in dominant fashion, winning by a final score of 76-59. It was the fifth national title in UCONN’s history.

1. Amir Johnson

2. Brandon Lloyd

3. St. Louis Blues