Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

The Athletic
The Athletic
  • 4.7 (888)
  • 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. 8h ago

    MLB Championship Series Preview: Can the Dodgers & Rays Respond?

    The Milwaukee Brewers have a 2-0 NLCS lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, while the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays are tied 1-1 in the ALCS. With Game 3 approaching in both Championship Series, what adjustments could decide who reaches the 2026 World Series? DVR, Eno and Jed Lowrie break down the latest MLB playoff action, preview the critical pitching matchups, and close the book on the Chicago White Sox's surprising 2026 season. Milwaukee has taken the first two games against Los Angeles, and a 12-pitch walk by Jake Bauers may have been one of the biggest turning points of Game 2. We analyze how Bauers battled Yoshinobu Yamamoto, drove up his pitch count and set up Christian Yelich's two-run single that knocked the Dodgers' ace out of the game. Looking ahead to Game 3, how should the Brewers approach Blake Snell? Can Robert Gasser's unique pitch mix keep the Dodgers' lineup off balance? And which team has the advantage as the NLCS shifts to Los Angeles? The Rays have evened the ALCS at 1-1 after Freddy Peralta delivered six scoreless innings in Game 2, reaching 99.4 mph and dominating with his elevated fastball. Plus, Rays infielder Taylor Walls gives a fascinating explanation of how elite defenders anticipate where a baseball will be hit. Jed Lowrie shares his own major league experience with defensive positioning, pitch recognition and reacting to contact. With the series heading to Cleveland, the crew takes a deep dive into Gavin Williams' arsenal and how Tampa Bay hitters should approach him. Can Griffin Jax deliver enough innings to give the Rays an advantage in Game 3? The White Sox made an incredible turnaround in 2026, but their season ended with a disappointing five-game ALDS loss to Cleveland. What went wrong for Chicago's high-strikeout offense? Can Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami and Kyle Teel make the adjustments needed to take the next step? DVR, Eno and Jed examine the development of Chicago's young core, the future of Noah Schultz and Grant Taylor, and whether the White Sox should make a major investment in their starting rotation. Could a frontline free-agent pitcher turn the White Sox into legitimate World Series contenders in 2027? 💬 **JOIN THE CONVERSATION** Who wins Game 3 of the NLCS and ALCS? Are the Brewers the team to beat in the National League? And should the White Sox spend big this offseason? Like, subscribe and drop us a comment! **MORE RATES & BARRELS** 💬 Join our Discord for conversations and mailbag questions: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe 📰 Subscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels 👕 Shop Rates & Barrels merchandise: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/ **FOLLOW THE HOSTS** Derek VanRiper on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dvr.bsky.social Eno Sarris on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/enosarris.bsky.social 📧 Email: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Hosts:Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Contributor:Jed Lowrie Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis Rates & Barrels | The Athletic #MLBPlayoffs #Brewers #Dodgers #ALCS #NLCS #Guardians #Rays #WhiteSox #RatesAndBarrels 00:00 – Introduction: NLCS & ALCS Game 3 Preview 01:24 – The Moneyball Advantages 02:52 – Jake Bauers' 12-Pitch Walk vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto 06:15 – How Long At-Bats Wear Down Elite Pitchers 14:05 – NLCS Game 3 Preview: Blake Snell vs. Robert Gasser 20:26 – Why Robert Gasser's Pitch Mix Is So Difficult 22:37 – Freddy Peralta's Dominant ALCS Game 2 25:49 – José Ramírez's Defensive Mistakes 32:36 – Taylor Walls Explains the Art of Infield Defense 39:39 – Jed Lowrie on Defensive Preparation & Positioning 44:25 – Parker Messick and the Guardians' Game 3 Outlook 45:48 – How Would You Hit Against Gavin Williams? 53:14 – Griffin Jax and Tampa Bay's Game 3 Strategy 54:20 – Closing the Tab: Chicago White Sox 56:25 – The White Sox's Emerging Young Core 1:05:02 – How the White Sox Can Reduce Their Strikeouts 1:06:36 – Final Thoughts & What's Next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. 1d ago

    Should the Dodgers BENCH Shohei Ohtani? | NLCS & ALCS Breakdowns

    Should the Los Angeles Dodgers actually consider BENCHING Shohei Ohtani? The Milwaukee Brewers have jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the NLCS, Cleveland has stolen Game 1 of the ALCS from Tampa Bay, and the New York Yankees are facing some uncomfortable questions after another disappointing October. Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris and Britt Ghiroli break down the latest MLB playoff action on Rates & Barrels, including Milwaukee's formula for beating the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani's struggles, Cleveland's pitching strategy against the Rays, and a deep dive into what went wrong for the 2026 Yankees. Milwaukee has taken the first two games of the NLCS despite facing Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. What's making the Brewers so difficult to beat? Looking ahead to Game 3, can Blake Snell and the Dodgers turn the series around against Robert Gasser? The Guardians stunned Tampa Bay in ALCS Game 1, rallying against Drew Rasmussen and the Rays' bullpen. Did Kevin Cash leave Rasmussen in too long? How did Cleveland use Tampa Bay's platoon weaknesses to its advantage? And can the Guardians maintain their momentum against Freddy Peralta in Game 2? DVR, Eno and Britt examine Cleveland's aggressive approach at the plate, Parker Messick's workload, the impact of Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey, and Junior Caminero's injury scare. Another 90-win season. Another October disappointment. And another winter of questions in the Bronx. Britt Ghiroli examines the Yankees' lack of accountability, the health concerns surrounding Aaron Judge, and why the organizational culture may no longer resemble the Yankees teams that won championships. Should Aaron Boone return? What changes should Brian Cashman make? Can the Yankees build a roster that wins with contact, defense and situational baseball instead of relying so heavily on power? What do you think? Should the Dodgers bench Ohtani? Are the Brewers the NL favorites? And what needs to change for the Yankees to win another World Series? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👍 Like, subscribe and drop us a comment! 💬 Join the Rates & Barrels Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe 📰 Subscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels 👕 Rates & Barrels Merch: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/ Follow Rates & Barrels: Derek VanRiper on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dvr.bsky.social Eno Sarris on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/enosarris.bsky.social 📧 ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Contributor:Britt Ghiroli Executive Producer & Editor:McEnroe Francis #MLBPlayoffs #Brewers #Dodgers #ShoheiOhtani #Yankees #RatesAndBarrels 00:00 – Guardians Win Game 1; Brewers Take Control of NLCS 02:34 – Did Kevin Cash Leave Drew Rasmussen in Too Long? 06:55 – How Cleveland Exploited Tampa Bay's Platoon Weaknesses 13:43 – Guardians' Aggressive Approach Against Rasmussen 15:18 – ALCS Game 2 Preview: Parker Messick vs. Freddy Peralta 21:43 – Brewers Lead Dodgers 2-0 in the NLCS 23:24 – Milwaukee's Winning Formula: Plate Discipline and Baserunning 25:40 – Shohei Ohtani's Health and Dodgers' Offensive Struggles 26:28 – Why Milwaukee's Fastball Strategy Is Working 28:15 – How the Dodgers Attacked Jacob Misiorowski 30:17 – The Brewers' Dominant Bullpen 32:17 – William Contreras, Christian Yelich and Cooper Pratt 38:39 – What Went Wrong with Yoshinobu Yamamoto? 39:57 – Why Haven't the Dodgers Used Edwin Díaz? 44:57 – NLCS Game 3 Preview: Robert Gasser vs. Blake Snell 48:05 – Should the Dodgers Bench Shohei Ohtani? 50:40 – Closing the Tab: The 2026 New York Yankees 01:02:36 – Are the Yankees Behind Baseball's Contact Revolution? 01:03:36 – Is the Yankees' Culture of Accountability Gone? 01:06:30 – The Yankees' Success Since Their Last World Series 01:08:12 – Final Thoughts and What's Next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. 3d ago

    Guardians vs. Rays ALCS Preview: Can Cleveland's Pitching Go the Distance?

    The 2026 ALCS is set! The Cleveland Guardians completed an incredible comeback against the Chicago White Sox, erasing a 2-0 ALDS deficit to advance to the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. But after surviving Chicago, does Cleveland have enough pitching left to take down Tampa Bay? Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris deliver their complete **Guardians vs. Rays ALCS preview**, breaking down projected starting pitching matchups, bullpen depth, lineup advantages, platoon strategies, X-factors and predictions for the best-of-seven series. José Ramírez delivered one of the most remarkable home runs in postseason history, Gavin Williams dominated Game 5, and Cade Smith has been nearly unhittable. Now the Guardians face a Rays team that won five of their six regular-season meetings and has a very different approach to managing its pitching staff. Can Cleveland navigate a potential bullpen game against Drew Rasmussen? How will Parker Messick and Gavin Williams match up against Tampa Bay's starters? And will Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz or an unexpected Rays role player become the difference-maker? Who wins the ALCS — Guardians or Rays? And how many games will it take? Drop your predictions in the comments!** 👍 Like, subscribe and drop us a comment! ⚾ First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026 💬 Join the Rates & Barrels Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe 📰 Subscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels 👕 Rates & Barrels Merch: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/ Follow Rates & Barrels: Derek VanRiper on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dvr.bsky.social Eno Sarris on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/enosarris.bsky.social 📧 Email: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com 🎧 Rates & Barrels — The Athletic's Baseball Podcast Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis #ALCS #Guardians #Rays #MLBPlayoffs #RatesAndBarrels 00:00 – Guardians Complete an Incredible ALDS Comeback 01:43 – Cleveland's Pitching Exposes Chicago's Biggest Weakness 06:56 – José Ramírez's Unbelievable Game 5 Home Run 11:45 – Guardians vs. Rays: Projected ALCS Pitching Matchups 14:24 – Comparing the Starting Rotations and Bullpens 16:22 – How Cleveland Can Attack Tampa Bay's Platoons 22:33 – Rays Dominate the Regular-Season Matchups 25:44 – Cade Smith and the Guardians' Bullpen Challenge 28:23 – Which Guardians Hitters Must Step Up? 33:14 – Breaking Down the Game 1 and Game 2 Matchups 39:36 – Tampa Bay's Pitching Depth and Defensive Advantage 42:16 – Why the ALCS Schedule Could Hurt Cleveland 44:40 – ALCS Predictions: Rays in Six? 49:24 – The Junior Caminero Trade Comes Back to Haunt Cleveland 51:29 – ALCS X-Factors and Unexpected Difference-Makers 52:18 – Could Tampa Bay's Outfield Defense Be Exposed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. 4d ago ·  Video

    Starkville | Tim Kurkjian and Eduardo Pérez on Baseball’s Craziest October Moments, Controversies and Stories

    Tim Kurkjian and Eduardo Pérez return to Starkville! This week, Jayson and Doug welcome the baseball insiders to break down the wildest moments of the postseason, from Eduardo’s Dodgers and Yankees fumble to the best stories of October, including Bryan Baker’s buddies and the Tampa Bay Rays’ growth. They discuss the craziest things they’ve seen on the field, questionable umpire predictions, the Yankees’ wall controversy, and the lawyer explanations that followed. Plus, they dive into the baseball insanity surrounding the Guardians and White Sox, the challenges of retractable roofs in Tampa and Milwaukee, and Eduardo’s memorable encounter with a D-ring. And in Strange But True, a fair or foul call involving Milwaukee’s roof takes center stage. Finally, Tim and Eduardo share stories from their travels around baseball, including what makes Tim Kurkjian such a legendary storyteller. Rundown: 00:33 In The Booth 05:59 Up Next 06:03 Tim and Eduardo Visit Starkville! 13:48 Best Thing This Postseason 23:36 Craziest Things Seen 30:21 Guardians and White Sox 42:25 Let’s Talk About Roofs 47:41 Elite Shortstop Explanation 51:49 Top Tales About Traveling With Tim and Eduardo 1:00:00 Up Next 1:00:35 Strange But True 01:12:26 Wrap Up 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 With: Tony Gwynn Jr. & Mark Grant Producer: Matthew Chilelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. 6d ago

    Dodgers vs. Brewers NLCS Preview: Who Has the Edge?

    The Dodgers have the star power, the Cy Young-caliber rotation and seemingly endless pitching depth. But are the Brewers actually the perfect team to beat them? Eno Sarris and Trevor May preview the Dodgers-Brewers NLCS, breaking down a loaded Los Angeles rotation featuring Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow and how Milwaukee's contact-heavy, low-chase offense might attack it. Can the Brewers grind down L.A.'s starters and reach the vulnerable portions of the bullpen? Is Jacob Misiorowski the great equalizer? How important will Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill be in a seven-game series? And could simply getting one blowout win — and saving the high-leverage arms for another night — ultimately swing the NLCS? Plus, Eno and Trevor reveal their X-factors and make their picks to reach the World Series. Who wins the NLCS: Dodgers or Brewers? Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Rates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/ 00:00 — Dodgers vs. Brewers NLCS Preview 03:47 — Can Milwaukee Crack the Dodgers' Rotation? 09:03 — Breaking Down the Dodgers' Bullpen 11:47 — Is Edwin Díaz Back? 16:25 — What's Wrong With the Dodgers' Offense? 19:25 — Dodgers vs. Brewers Offense 23:03 — Jacob Misiorowski & the Brewers' Rotation 25:34 — Where the Dodgers Have the Pitching Edge 26:55 — The Key to the Series 28:06 — Brewers Bullpen & Aaron Ashby 31:33 — Death By A Thousand Cuts 32:20 — How Milwaukee Can Attack Dodgers Pitching 36:35 — Can the Brewers Grind Down Skubal? 38:41 — How Milwaukee Can Slow Down an Ace 41:20 — The Left-Handed Matchup Game 43:41 — NLCS X-Factors 48:54 — Trevor & Eno Make Their Picks 51:15 — Why Is Postseason Offense Disappearing? 58:13 — Has Baseball Come Full Circle? Hosts: Eno Sarris & Trevor May Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. 6d ago

    MLB Playoffs Live Recap: Dodgers, Brewers & Rays Advance and Guardians Stay Alive

    The Championship Series field is starting to take shape. The Dodgers, Brewers and Rays are moving on after a massive day of postseason baseball, while the Guardians kept their season alive and forced another game against the White Sox. DVR and Eno recap all four games, breaking down the biggest performances, pitching decisions and moments that decided each matchup. They look at how Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Tampa Bay punched their tickets to the next round, what Cleveland did to extend its series with Chicago, and what it all means as the MLB postseason moves one step closer to the ALCS and NLCS. Plus, who earned a 🥂 **Toast of the Game** after a full day of October baseball? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Oct 7

    Dodgers Respond, Padres Stay Alive + Yankees and Guardians on the Brink

    The Division Series are heating up, and Rates & Barrels is LIVE to break down everything from a huge night of October baseball. DVR and Eno Sarris recap Tuesday’s NLDS action, including Brewers-Padres Game 3 and Braves-Dodgers Game 3, as both National League series take another major step toward determining who will reach the NLCS. Then, the guys turn their attention to the American League after the Rays and White Sox took control of their respective series. The Yankees and Guardians now head into Wednesday facing potential elimination games with their seasons on the line. What went wrong for New York and Cleveland? Can either team fight its way back into the series? And what have Tampa Bay and Chicago done to put themselves one win away from the ALCS? Plus, we break down the biggest performances, managerial decisions, pitching matchups and turning points from another packed day of postseason baseball. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Oct 5

    Braves Put Dodgers on Notice, Brewers Take 2-0 Lead vs. Padres | NLDS Deep Dive

    The NLDS is getting interesting in a hurry. DVR, Eno Sarris and Britt Ghiroli take a deep dive into both National League Division Series after a dramatic opening weekend. The Braves stole a game in Los Angeles without using Chris Sale and now head home tied 1-1 with Sale lined up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 3. Did the Dodgers get too far ahead of themselves by setting up Yamamoto with the NLCS in mind — and could that decision come back to haunt them? Plus, Atlanta’s bullpen has stepped up in a huge way, Ray Kerr continues to emerge as an October weapon, and the Dodgers’ lineup suddenly faces enormous pressure. Then, Britt takes us inside two incredible Brewers-Padres games in Milwaukee. The Brewers head to San Diego with a 2-0 series lead despite defensive mistakes and less-than-dominant starting pitching. Did San Diego pull Michael King too early? Was asking Mason Miller for six outs a mistake? And can the Padres’ offense finally capitalize after leaving 20 runners on base through the first two games? Finally, the crew tackles one of October’s biggest debates: Do analytics actually work in the postseason? Or does playoff baseball require teams to think differently when every pitch, matchup and managerial decision is magnified? Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Guest: Britt Ghiroli Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Rates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/ #brewers #dodgers #braves #padres #mlbplayoffs 00:00 NLDS Deep Dive 01:57 Braves-Dodgers: Atlanta Steals the Split 03:54 How Atlanta’s Bullpen Beat the Dodgers 05:00 Are the Dodgers in Trouble? 06:57 Ray Kerr Becomes an October Weapon 10:51 Dodgers’ Curious Bunt Decision 14:05 Did LA Make a Mistake With Yamamoto? 18:05 Sale-Yamamoto & What Comes Next 21:25 Are Teams Pushing Pitchers Too Hard? 25:27 ABS Changes October Baseball 27:37 Brewers-Padres Game 2 Deep Dive 28:21 Did the Padres Pull Michael King Too Early? 31:35 Mason Miller’s Six-Out Gamble 35:28 Padres’ Offense Comes Up Short 39:04 Brewers Escape Milwaukee Up 2-0 41:29 What Happened to Mason Miller? 46:38 Can San Diego’s Bullpen Recover? 48:35 Brewers-Padres Game 3 Preview 50:05 Is Playoff Baseball Actually Different? 54:03 Do Analytics Work in October? 58:53 The Analytics vs. Eye Test Debate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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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.

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