Every morning, I send an email to my sports-averse coworkers detailing the biggest events in the sports world that day. This is to help them better converse with the sport-obsessed among us. I will publish this email every morning as the Bias Bulletin.

Not An April Classic. Rather, a Classic in April

-Yesterday’s Game of the Day answered the call. And then some. If all I wrote here was that the Giants beat the Phillies 1-0 in 11 innings, you would be impressed. But consider that this was a 2 ½ hour, 11 inning game (As a reference point, last night’s 9 inning Yankees/Twins game lasted 3 ½ hours). Also consider the pitching performances. Giants pitcher Matt Cain threw 9 shutout innings, surrendering only two hits, and was only pulled for a pinch hitter. Cain managed to throw just 91 pitches in his 9 innings, including four single-digit pitch innings. Phillies starter Cliff Lee matched him, throwing 10 shutout innings. The game was won by the Giants in the 11^th on a base hit by Melky Cabrera, who scored Brandon Belt from 2^nd base. The teams will meet again in mid-July. Let’s all cross our fingers for a Cain/Lee rematch.

Big, Fat, Strike Throwing, Bartolo Colon

-I really had no intentions to write, again, mostly about baseball. I get that it’s April and most people are either 1.) Enjoying al fresco dining, 2.) Watching playoff hockey, or 3.) Having an allergy fit. But sometimes, baseball forces itself into the headlines. While the Giants and Phillies were playing one of the best pitched games you’ll ever see, Oakland Athletics pitcher (and living testament to the virtues of a healthy lifestyle) Bartolo Colon was providing his own historic pitching performance. Between the 5^th and 8^th innings of last night’s game against the Angels, Colon did not throw a single called ball. 38 strikes. 0 balls. There’s no real analysis that one can provide here. It’s also unlikely that the folks watching at Angels Stadium were aware of the feat. But to think, after the fact, about a pitcher being that “on,” is really stunning.

How to Dominate. And Lose.

-Yesterday, in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, Chelsea beat FC Barcelona, the best club team in the world (in any sport), 1-0. Now, it’s important to know that Chelsea was playing at home in the first leg, and will have to play at Barca next week and manage to lose by fewer than 2 goals. That’s not terribly likely. Especially considering how badly Chelsea was dominated by the team they beat yesterday. Do you like stats? Try these:

Total Shots: Barcelona-24/Chelsea-4

Shots on Goal: Barcelona-6/Chelsea-1

Ball Possession (as a percentage): Barcelona-79%/Chelsea-21%

To advance to the UEFA Champions League final, Barcelona will need to defeat Chelsea by at least two goals next Wednesday. Given the numbers above, I’d say that is a likely scenario.

Your Daily Washington Nationals Update

-The Washington Nationals are 10-3. I don’t need to be impartial. Writing that makes me giddy. It’s important to remember that it’s April. My significant other pointed that out to me last night as I yelled “10 and 3” repeatedly after Henry Rodriguez closed out the ninth against the Astros. It’s also important to remember that the Nationals haven’t played anyone worth a darn yet. The Cubs, Mets, Reds, and Astros aren’t going to win the World Series this year. They won’t even make the playoffs this year.

Above all else, though, what is important when it comes to the Nationals’ 10-3 record is that they have won 10 games and lost 3. They have one of the best records in baseball. Their pitching staff has been the best in baseball to this point. Their bullpen, save for a few minor hiccups, has been rock solid. And they’re missing arguably their second best hitter. 10-3 is good. It doesn’t matter what month it is.

The Nationals will try, for the second consecutive series, to accomplish a four-game sweep when they take on the Astros tonight at the Navy Yard. Edwin Jackson will take the hill for Washington and oppose Astros ace Bud Norris. Jackson is coming off of a complete game on Saturday against the Reds. A win tonight will move the Nats to 5 ½ games up on the Philadelphia Phillies, heading into an important (yes, for April) weekend series with the Miami Marlins.

Game of the Day

Boston Bruins @ Washington Capitals (BOS leads 2-1) (7:30/NBC Sports Network or Local TV)

-This series has been chippy. Of course, you could say that about each of the NHL’s playoff series. But this one appears to be on the brink of becoming REALLY chippy. The Capitals will have their backs against the wall tonight, as they’ll have to play without Nicklas Backstrom (their best player. Don’t even try to debate me on Alex Ovechkin.). The Capitals will need a performance from goaltender Braden Holtby similar to that of Game 2, when the Capitals won in Boston in 2 OT. Falling to a 3-1 deficit tonight will leave the undertaker reaching for that final nail in Washington’s coffin.