Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

The Athletic
The Athletic
  • 4.7 (885)
  • Baseball
  • Updated Daily

In baseball, numbers are everywhere. But they’re not just numbers. For Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris, they’re the keys to solving the most fun problem in sports. Every weekday, join DVR and Eno as they unpack baseball in ways you’ve never heard before, endeavoring to figure out all they can about a sport that’s constantly changing. Alongside contributors Britt Ghiroli, Trevor May and Jed Lowrie, the Rates & Barrels crew breaks down all the latest MLB news through an analytical lens, feeding your unhealthy addiction to numbers, while helping you master your fantasy baseball GM skills. But wait, there's more: come back for Saturday mornings in Starkville, where Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville talk to some of the most important players, coaches, and thought leaders in the league. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 10h ago

    A Great Day for Angels Fans

    Angels fans rejoice as Arte Moreno has decided to sell the club to Stan Kroenke, on the heels of MLB’s longest-running playoff drought. Plus, Eno and DVR discuss fantasy stat correlations and variance as the head-to-head playoffs are underway in many leagues, before taking a look at a few of the most interesting players getting promoted (or activated from the IL) as a part of September roster expansion. Rates & Barrels is your home for smart MLB analysis, advanced stats, fantasy baseball and the stories shaping the game with Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris. Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026 Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis Editor: Matthew Chilelli #MLB #Angels #Baseball #MLBPlayoffs #RatesAndBarrels Rundown 0:00 Angels Fans, Rejoice! 1:59 Arte Moreno Agrees to Sell Angels 6:16 Falling Behind During The Moreno Era 10:57 Big Changes Expected Under Stan Kroenke 18:33 Correlation & Volatility: The Link Between Fantasy Stats 23:36 Monthly Volatility: Batting Average Fluctuates Most 31:19 Preseason Projections: Thrown Away Too Quickly? (Dan Szymborski) 36:42 Is Coby Mayo Showing Signs of Growth? 41:06 Check Out The Athletic Live, Sept. 8th on YouTube! 41:37 September Roster Expansion: Notable Promotions & Returns Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. 1d ago

    Are the Red Sox Really World Series Contenders? + September Surprises

    The Boston Red Sox have gone from one of MLB's biggest disappointments to a legitimate September contender. DVR, Eno and Britt Ghiroli discuss Boston's remarkable turnaround, whether Craig Breslow's changes actually fixed something within the organization and whether the Red Sox should now be viewed as a legitimate World Series threat. First, Ketel Marte returns to the Diamondbacks following a 13-game absence. DVR, Eno and Britt discuss the reaction in Arizona, Torey Lovullo's handling of the situation and what the latest chapter could mean for Marte's long-term future with the D-backs. Then it's time for a few September surprises. Aaron Nola put together a strong August after struggling for much of the season, Rafael Devers reached 30 home runs for the fifth time in his career and Alex Bregman's second-half power surge has quietly put him among MLB's home run leaders since the beginning of July. Britt, DVR and Eno also discuss the controversy surrounding comments made on the Red Sox radio broadcast about Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the larger question it raises about the increasingly blurry line between broadcasters, reporters and fans. Plus the Baltimore Orioles are finally back to .500. Colton Cowser's incredible catch helped Baltimore reach the mark for the first time since April, but the Orioles' improvement goes much deeper. Finally, the conversation turns to Dodgers owner Mark Walter and the questions surrounding his broader business empire. How relevant are those financial issues to baseball, and how much of the Dodgers' Rates & Barrels is your home for smart MLB analysis, advanced stats, fantasy baseball and the stories shaping the game with Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris and Britt Ghiroli. Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026 Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Contributor: Britt Ghiroli Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis Editor: McEnroe Francis #MLB #RedSox #Baseball #MLBPlayoffs #RatesAndBarrels 00:00 — Welcome to September Baseball 02:42 — DVR's Very Important Travel Advice 04:49 — Ketel Marte Returns to Arizona 11:21 — Aaron Nola's August Turnaround 14:49 — Rafael Devers Reaches 30 HR Again 16:32 — Alex Bregman's Second-Half Power Surge 18:12 — Walker Jenkins' First MLB Home Run 23:05 — Something Is Happening With the Red Sox 25:53 — Are Boston Legitimate World Series Contenders? 27:41 — Did Craig Breslow Fix the Red Sox? 33:11 — Red Sox Radio Controversy 42:39 — Do the Brewers Have a Kyle Harrison Problem? 50:40 — Sage Performance Review: Orioles Back to .500 58:41 — Mark Walter, the Dodgers & MLB Ownership 1:11:58 — Discord, Merch & What's Next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. 2d ago

    Inside Baseball’s Next Analytics Revolution

    MLB's player development continues to change. DVR and Eno take the show on the road at Saber Seminar, exploring the evolution of pitching development, the next generation of hitting metrics and the new data that could change how teams evaluate players. Former MLB pitcher and current University of Oregon Director of Pitching Development Dan Straily joins the show to retrace his career through one of the most transformative eras in pitching. Straily explains how being forced to develop a changeup helped take him from Double-A to the major leagues, how the Astros recognized that his fastball played better at the top of the strike zone and how pitchers gradually gained a better understanding of pitch shapes and movement. Then Driveline Baseball's Director of Baseball Operations Jack Lambert joins the show to explain one of the emerging frontiers in hitting analysis: bat path grades. How can bat speed, attack angle, attack direction and swing-path data help measure the value of an individual swing? And could metrics like rotational acceleration eventually tell us even more about a hitter's underlying ability? DVR, Eno and Lambert explore whether bat-path data can eventually become hitting's answer to Stuff+, how quickly swing metrics stabilize and why this type of information could become especially valuable for evaluating amateur and minor-league hitters before traditional statistics provide enough information. Rates & Barrels is your home for MLB analysis, advanced stats, player development, fantasy baseball and the evolving ways teams understand the game with Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris. Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026 Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis Editor: McEnroe Francis ***SORRY FOR DVR's Audio at the top. His mic cable had an issue. Was fixed after his first statement. 00:00 — Dan Straily & the Evolution of Pitching Development 01:15 — Being Forced to Develop a Changeup 03:17 — How the Astros Unlocked Straily’s Fastball 04:47 — When Pitch Design Doesn't Fit the Pitcher 08:21 — Why Triple-A Made Straily a Better Pitcher 10:01 — Are Young Pitchers Too Focused on Stuff+? 12:03 — Straily, Driveline & the Weighted-Ball Battle 13:28 — Reinventing Himself in the KBO 15:34 — How Straily’s Playing Career Shaped His Coaching 19:02 — Jack Lambert & Driveline’s Bat Path Grades 20:11 — What Is a Bat Path Grade? 21:43 — How Predictive Is Bat Path Data? 23:20 — Rotational Acceleration vs. Bat Speed 25:43 — Can Swing Data Become Hitting’s Stuff+? 29:52 — DVR & Eno’s Biggest Saber Seminar Takeaways 33:43 — Why Anti-Tunneling Works for Some Pitchers 34:32 — The Science Behind Multiple Fastball Shapes 35:38 — The Hidden Differences Between MLB Bats 36:44 — What Really Predicts Stolen Bases? #MLB #BaseballAnalytics #Sabermetrics #Pitching #RatesAndBarrels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. 5d ago ·  Video

    Starkville | Jimmy Rollins Knows When It’s Time to Retire

    It’s Doug’s birthday, and who better to help him celebrate than his former Phillies teammate and mentee, Jimmy Rollins? This week, Doug and DVR, filling in for Jayson, sit down with Jimmy to talk about the shock of being drafted by Philadelphia, how Doug helped him get acclimated to the big leagues, what it was like playing alongside Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Cole Hamels, and the moment he finally knew it was time to retire. Plus, with the playoff chase heating up, Doug and DVR each pick a team they believe in. And, of course, it wouldn’t be the show without Strange But True—a particularly rough week for Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller. Rundown: 0:49 Happy Birthday, Doug! 7:14 Teams We Believe In 16:22 Jimmy Rollins Stops By 16:56 Getting Drafted by the Phillies 24:58 J-Roll’s Mentors 35:54 The End in Philadelphia 40:37 How the Game Has Changed 48:38 Art of Stealing Bases 50:37 Lightning Round 1:01:43 The 6-1-1 Podcast 1:05:22 Strange But True 1:12:46 Trivia Time Follow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.social Follow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.social Follow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.social E-mail: starkville@theathletic.com Starkville Hotline: (347) 313-8371 Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Jayson Stark & Doug Glanville Guest Host: Derek VanRiper With: Jimmy Rollins Producer: Jason Potere Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. 5d ago

    Which MLB Breakouts Are Real? + Fantasy Baseball Waiver Targets

    MLB's final push for the Wild Card and Playoffs are here, Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris have everything you need for the stretch run. DVR and Eno break down the best September waiver-wire targets, two-start pitchers and late-season saves options while examining whether breakouts from Jordan Walker, James Wood and other young hitters are sustainable heading into 2027. First, the guys catch up on the baseball news you should know. Carlos Correa is nearing a September return, Eugenio Suárez and TJ Friedl have landed on waivers, Mason Winn's thumb injury creates new questions in St. Louis, and Denzel Clarke could get another opportunity with the A's. Plus, Roki Sasaki heads back to the IL while Gavin Stone and Tony Gonsolin work their way toward potential September returns. Walker has changed his swing, lowered his strikeout rate and reached a new level of power, but should fantasy managers really pay a first-round price next spring? The guys also look ahead to Cam Smith and Lawrence Butler, including why a big September from Smith could make him more expensive than DVR wants him to be in 2027 fantasy drafts. Then it's time to attack the waiver wire for the final month of the fantasy baseball season. Tristan Peters remains surprisingly available despite a productive season and everyday role with the White Sox, while Rafael Flores, Mickey Gasper and Tim Tawa offer potential help in deeper formats. Follow Rates & Barrels for MLB analysis, fantasy baseball strategy, advanced stats, waiver-wire advice and player development with Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris. Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026 Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels #FantasyBaseball #MLB #FantasyFriday #WaiverWire #RatesAndBarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis Editor: McEnroe Francis 00:00 — Fantasy Friday: September Targets & MLB News 02:05 — Carlos Correa Nearing a Return 03:56 — Eugenio Suárez & TJ Friedl Hit Waivers 06:15 — Mason Winn Injury & Cardinals Playing Time 12:19 — Denzel Clarke Nearing a Return 15:18 — Roki Sasaki Heads to the IL 17:52 — Can Hitters Really Change Their Swing Decisions? 23:08 — James Wood’s Improved Approach 24:24 — Jordan Walker’s Breakout & 2027 Value 32:54 — Cam Smith vs. Lawrence Butler 39:21 — Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets 39:42 — Why Tristan Peters Is Still Available 44:21 — Rafael Flores & Mickey Gasper 46:44 — Elliot Ramos & Taylor Ward Stock Down 48:00 — Best Two-Start Pitchers for Next Week 49:23 — Drop Grayson Rodriguez? 53:03 — Deep-League Streamers & Saves Targets Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. 6d ago

    Which Rookie Pitchers Are Future Aces?

    Should MLB create a Rookie Pitcher of the Year award? DVR, Eno and Trevor May break down baseball’s best rookie pitchers, including Nolan McLean, Parker Messick and Payton Tolle, before searching deeper for young arms who could become impact starters, closers and fantasy baseball breakouts in 2027. Parker Messick is putting together a historically impressive rookie season for the Guardians. Payton Tolle offers a different profile for the Red Sox. With more traditional high-end velocity and a polished presence on the mound. In the National League, Nolan McLean has answered some of the biggest questions surrounding his arsenal. Could increased changeup usage unlock another level for the Mets right-hander? The crew also examines Logan Henderson's unusual combination of below-average velocity, strike throwing and swing-and-miss ability before diving into the next group of intriguing young pitchers. Walbert Ureña, Didier Fuentes, Bradgley Rodríguez, Blade Tidwell and Connor Prielipp all present different questions about command, pitch shape, sequencing and future roles. Rates & Barrels is your home for MLB analysis, advanced stats, pitching development, fantasy baseball and everything happening around Major League Baseball with Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris and Trevor May. Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026 Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Contributor: Trevor May Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis Editor: McEnroe Francis 00:00 — Should MLB Have a Rookie Pitcher of the Year? 08:22 — Parker Messick vs. Payton Tolle 09:10 — Messick’s Historically Good Rookie Season 14:48 — How Good Can Payton Tolle Be? 19:18 — Nolan McLean’s Rookie Season 19:38 — Has McLean Answered the Lefty Question? 27:44 — The Logan Henderson Puzzle 35:20 — Rookie Pitchers to Watch for 2027 35:25 — Walbert Ureña’s Breakout Season 48:52 — Didier Fuentes’ Unusual Arsenal 55:01 — Could Bradgley Rodríguez Become a Starter? 1:01:42 — Connor Prielipp’s Next Step #MLB #Baseball #MLBRookies #RookieOfTheYear #RatesAndBarrels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Aug 26

    Final AL Playoff Predictions: Who’s In & Who’s Out?

    DVR, Eno and Jed Lowrie make their final American League playoff predictions, picking all three AL division winners and three Wild Card teams as the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, White Sox, Guardians, Mariners, Rangers and Astros battle for October. DVR still can't quit the Seattle Mariners. Seattle enters the stretch run within striking distance of the AL West and owns an extremely favorable remaining schedule, but defensive shortcomings and an inconsistent offense leave plenty of reasons to question whether the Mariners can actually get back to October. Jed also offers a player's perspective on what happens inside a clubhouse when a team with postseason expectations starts to fall apart late in the season, drawing on his experience with the 2011 Boston Red Sox. The conversation turns to the Blue Jays and whether Toronto can find another gear before time runs out. Then, Eno digs into one of his favorite kinds of rabbit holes: batting stance changes. Carson Benge's impressive rookie season sparks a deeper look at why hitters open or close their stance, how those adjustments can affect vision and swing mechanics, and what Fernando Tatis Jr.'s changes reveal about the tradeoffs hitters make at the plate. Finally, Name That Dude returns! DVR puts Eno and Jed to the test with clues about a mystery former MLB player before the conversation inevitably turns into baseball cards, heat maps and Statcast ideas. Rates & Barrels is your home for smart baseball analysis, MLB trends, advanced stats, fantasy baseball and everything happening around the league with Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris and Jed Lowrie. Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026 Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Contributor: Jed Lowrie Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis Editor: McEnroe Francis #MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Baseball #Yankees #Mariners #RatesAndBarrels 00:00 — Final AL Playoff Predictions 03:12 — The AL Playoff Race Is Chaos 08:38 — Can the White Sox Win the AL Central? 13:19 — Why Cleveland Can Make a September Run 16:49 — DVR Still Believes in the Mariners 19:35 — Mariners vs. Astros in the AL West 23:17 — When a Contender Starts Falling Apart 24:59 — Can the Blue Jays Save Their Season? 29:19 — Final AL Playoff Picks 31:41 — Carson Benge's Breakout Rookie Season 34:40 — Why Hitters Change Their Stance 46:30 — What Fernando Tatis Jr. Changed 52:14 — Name That Dude Returns 56:21 — The Mystery Player Revealed 56:56 — What Should Be on the Back of a Baseball Card? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Aug 25

    Cal Raleigh’s 3-HR Night Ends Phillies’ 9-Game Winning Streak

    Cal Raleigh finally broke out in a huge way, blasting three home runs Monday after a season-long struggle at the plate. But was this simply one monster game, or are there signs that the Mariners slugger is beginning to correct the approach issues that contributed to his disappointing season? DVR and Eno dig into what changed for Cal Raleigh, including his swing decisions, declining aggression on pitches inside the strike zone and increased chase rate. The Mariners aren't the only team with a star player raising questions. Zack Wheeler has been hammered over his last six starts. Is Wheeler simply hitting a late-season wall — or is there something in his arsenal that can be fixed before October? Then, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic joins the show to go inside a turbulent stretch for the Arizona Diamondbacks. What's happening with Ketel Marte, where does his relationship with the organization and clubhouse stand, and what does it mean for a D-backs team trying to stay alive in the National League Wild Card race? Finally, Jesús Cano of The Athletic joins DVR and Eno to break down an NL East race that suddenly looks very different. The Braves have stumbled while the Phillies have surged, dramatically shrinking Atlanta's division cushion and setting up an important stretch in the final month. Rates & Barrels delivers MLB analysis, advanced stats, fantasy baseball strategy, prospect breakdowns and reporting from around the league every weekday. Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026 Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Contributor: Jesús Cano & Nick Piecoro Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis Editor: McEnroe Francis #CalRaleigh #Mariners #MLB #phillies #RatesAndBarrels 0:00 Today on Rates & Barrels 02:01 Cal Raleigh Breaks Out With Three Homers 05:28 What’s Changed With Cal Raleigh & Julio Rodríguez? 08:22 How Much Have Injuries Affected Seattle’s Stars? 10:39 Colt Emerson’s Injury & 2027 Outlook 12:37 What’s Wrong With Zack Wheeler? 16:18 Can Wheeler Turn It Around Before October? 17:57 Braves-Phillies NL East Race Tightens 18:36 What’s Going On With Ketel Marte? 20:37 Inside the Diamondbacks’ Clubhouse 25:13 Arizona’s Wild Card Outlook 28:45 Corbin Carroll & the D-backs’ Young Core 33:31 Braves’ NL East Lead Is Shrinking 37:35 What’s Gone Wrong for Atlanta? 40:41 Ronald Acuña Jr. & the Braves Offense 46:06 Atlanta’s Rotation & October Outlook 51:56 Can the Braves Hold Off the Phillies? 58:12 Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See All (1.1K)

Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
885 Ratings

About

In baseball, numbers are everywhere. But they’re not just numbers. For Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris, they’re the keys to solving the most fun problem in sports. Every weekday, join DVR and Eno as they unpack baseball in ways you’ve never heard before, endeavoring to figure out all they can about a sport that’s constantly changing. Alongside contributors Britt Ghiroli, Trevor May and Jed Lowrie, the Rates & Barrels crew breaks down all the latest MLB news through an analytical lens, feeding your unhealthy addiction to numbers, while helping you master your fantasy baseball GM skills. But wait, there's more: come back for Saturday mornings in Starkville, where Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville talk to some of the most important players, coaches, and thought leaders in the league. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

More From The Athletic

You Might Also Like