$\def\d{\mathrm{d}}$If there is an explanation for $e^\pi-\pi \approx 20$ similar to this one for $2\pi+e \approx 9$ we may try to build it the same way, from integrals related to rational approximations to $e^\pi$ and $\pi$.
Several integrals link $\pi$ to close fractions, such as Dalzell-type integrals for convergents to $2\pi$, but how about $e^\pi$?
A failed attempt
One way to describe $e^\pi$ as a fraction plus an integral error would be given by the following integral basis:
$$ \int_0^1 \frac{4e^{4\arctan x}}{1+x^2} \,\d x=e^\pi-1,\\ \int_0^1 \frac{\left(1+4x+x^2\right)e^{4\arctan x}}{1+x^2}\,\d x=e^\pi. $$
However, this leads to integrands that change their sign in $(0,1)$ and are not small, so they are not useful as a proof.
For instance, for $e^\pi \approx 23$, that we could combine with $\pi\approx 3$ to reach $e^\pi-\pi \approx 20$, we have $$\int_0^1 \frac{\left(70-88x-22x^2\right)e^{4\arctan x}}{1+x^2}\,\d x=e^\pi-20.$$
Similarly, for $e^\pi\approx \dfrac{162}{7}$ there is
$$\int_0^1\frac{(155 x^2 + 620 x - 493)e^{4\arctan x}}{7(1+x^2)} \,\d x = \frac{162}{7}-e^\pi.$$
The graphs by WolframAlpha show sign changes in $(0,1)$. Therefore, different integrals should be found.
Question
Are there integrals with small nonnegative integrand that yield rational approximations to $e^\pi$?
Also related:
Rational series representation of $e^\pi$
Why $e^{\pi}-\pi \approx 20$, and $e^{2\pi}-24 \approx 2^9$?
I don't claim that changing $a,b,c$ in the integral written is enough, possibly a different structure is needed...
– Jaume Oliver Lafont Apr 27 '17 at 11:03