Okay, so yesterday I was messing around trying to predict the Braves-Dodgers game. It’s just for fun, I’m no professional gambler, but I like to see how close I can get.
First thing I did was hit up ESPN and check out the stats. You know, the usual stuff – batting averages, ERAs, recent game results. I was looking for any trends, like if one team was particularly hot or cold going into the game.
Then I dove into some player matchups. I wanted to see who was pitching for each team and how well they’d done against the opposing team’s hitters in the past. Sometimes, a pitcher just has a batter’s number, and that can really swing things.
Here’s where I started getting into the weeds: I checked out some advanced stats. Things like WAR (Wins Above Replacement) and OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging) can give you a better sense of a player’s overall value than just looking at batting average alone. I used Baseball Reference for most of this; it’s a goldmine.
Next, I looked at each team’s bullpen. Relief pitching can make or break a game, especially late in the innings. I checked their ERAs and WHIPs (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched) to see who was reliable.
- Did a quick weather check. Wind can play a big role in how the ball carries, especially at Dodger Stadium.
- I also considered injuries. Key players being out can obviously affect a team’s chances.
After gathering all that info, I tried to weigh everything and come up with a prediction. I figured the Dodgers had a slight edge because they were playing at home and their starting pitcher had been pitching well lately. But the Braves have a powerful lineup, so I knew it wouldn’t be a cakewalk.
So, I predicted the Dodgers would win by a score of 5-4.
The actual result?
Dodgers won 6-3. Not too shabby! I was one run off on the Braves’ score. It was fun to see how all my research stacked up against reality.
Honestly, it’s more about the process than being right. It’s a fun way to learn more about baseball and appreciate the nuances of the game. Maybe next time I’ll try factoring in some even more obscure stats!
