Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

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?

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Guest: Britt Ghiroli

Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis

e-mail: [email protected]

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#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

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The MLB Division Series are already delivering chaos.

DVR and Eno recap a wild weekend of postseason baseball, beginning with the White Sox taking Game 1 from the Guardians behind Munetaka Murakami, Hagen Smith and another huge performance from Grant Taylor. What does Cleveland need to change with Gavin Williams taking the ball in Game 2?

Then, Drew Rasmussen delivered one of the best pitching performances of the postseason, carrying a no-hitter through six innings against the Yankees before finishing eight innings of one-hit ball. DVR and Eno break down why Rasmussen remains one of baseball's most underrated starters, Austin Wells' costly baserunning decision, the Rays' unusual approach to outfield defense, and what to expect from Cam Schlittler vs. Freddy Peralta in Game 2.

Plus: CABLEGATE! Did Ty France actually lose a potential game-tying home run when his fly ball struck a roof cable at American Family Field? Eno digs into the Statcast data, comparable batted balls, foul-ball probability and information from MLB analysts to determine what probably would have happened without the cable.

The Brewers ultimately survived Game 1 and rallied against Mason Miller in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead over the Padres. How much did San Diego's aggressive bullpen usage contribute to the loss, and can the Padres still make this a series?

Finally, the Braves steal Game 2 in Los Angeles to earn a split against the Dodgers. DVR and Eno examine Atlanta's unusual Chris Sale usage, the cost of leaning heavily on the bullpen, Teoscar Hernández's resurgence and what the series looks like heading back to Atlanta.

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis

00:00 Division Series Weekend Recap

01:14 White Sox Take Game 1 From Cleveland

02:03 Grant Taylor & Chicago's Pitching Chaos

04:44 Tommy Pham's Almost-Homer

07:47 Hagen Smith & White Sox Pitching Plans

13:39 White Sox-Guardians Game 2 Preview

17:36 Drew Rasmussen Dominates the Yankees

18:11 Austin Wells' Costly Baserunning Decision

19:18 Is Drew Rasmussen MLB's Secret Ace?

23:15 Cam Schlittler vs. Freddy Peralta

26:38 The Rays' Secret Outfield Defense Weapon

35:06 Cablegate: Did the Padres Get Robbed?

44:44 Brewers Survive Game 1

45:59 Did the Padres Overuse Their Bullpen?

48:51 How Milwaukee Escaped With a 2-0 Lead

50:53 Braves-Dodgers Series Recap

54:14 Atlanta's Chris Sale Gamble

58:55 Monday's ALDS Game 2 Matchups

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Tom Hamilton and Len Kasper join Starkville! This week, Jayson and Doug sit down with the longtime voices of the Red Sox and White Sox to discuss the matchup between two teams that have taken different paths but built their success the right way. They break down why America needs this series, whether any non-playoff teams could surprise everyone and make the postseason next year, and the emergence of José Ramírez, Chase DeLauter and other young players making their mark. They also discuss the early injury chaos, the contrasting pitching staffs, and the importance of trust when managing new coaches and young players. Plus, Jayson and Doug highlight players who deserve more attention, including Brayan Rocchio, Joey Cantillo, Tristan Peters and Sam Antonacci. And in Strange But True, the guys explore the Pope factor and his unexpected influence on the action in the field.

Rundown:

03:36 Am I Wrong?

05:41 Losing Left Handed Leverage

08:35 UP NEXT

09:04 Tom and Len Visit Starkville!

12:04 Why America Needs This Series

19:48 The Game of Predicting Playoffs

24:46 Chase Delauter and Parker Messick

27:11 Crazy First Inning Injuries

28:19 Contrast Between Pitching Staffs

31:15 Role of Trust in the Game

36:37 Players We Should Know Better

42:19 The Pope Factor In This Series

46:21 UP NEXT

Follow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.social

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E-mail: [email protected]

Starkville Hotline: (347) 313-8371

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Hosts: Jayson Stark & Doug Glanville

With: Tony Gwynn Jr. & Mark Grant

Producer: Matthew Chilelli

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The NLDS is here. DVR and Eno preview Braves-Dodgers and Padres-Brewers, breaking down the pitching matchups, lineup weaknesses, bullpen advantages and X-factors that could decide both National League Division Series.

Can Atlanta find a way to slow down the Dodgers? The Braves took five of six from Los Angeles during the regular season, but the postseason pitching staffs look very different. DVR and Eno examine how Chris Sale could be deployed, why J.R. Ritchie could become a surprise weapon for Atlanta and how the Dodgers’ collection of high-velocity arms could attack one of the Braves’ biggest offensive weaknesses.

The Dodgers finished among MLB’s leaders in 95+ mph fastballs, while Atlanta posted a .295 wOBA against those pitches during the regular season. Which Braves hitters can handle premium velocity? Plus, how healthy and effective will Shohei Ohtani be, and can Freddie Freeman bounce back after a difficult September?

Then it's Padres-Brewers. Milwaukee owns the top seed, but San Diego enters the NLDS after a huge second half and a Wild Card Series win over the Cubs. DVR and Eno dig into Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, Milwaukee’s pitching plans, Mason Miller and the battle between two deep bullpens.

The Brewers' offense might also be more dangerous than its reputation suggests. Milwaukee combines on-base ability, bat speed and aggressive baserunning, while both the Brewers and Padres finished among MLB's best teams against 95+ mph fastballs. Could that become a major factor against Misiorowski and San Diego's power bullpen?

Finally, it's time to Close the Tab on the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies. After another disappointing October exit, DVR and Eno discuss how the Bryce Harper era should be evaluated, an aging roster, Zack Wheeler, Trea Turner, Andrew Painter and whether Philadelphia should keep pushing its chips in for another championship run.

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

00:46 Braves-Dodgers: Setting Up the Series

05:46 How Atlanta's Rotation Could Line Up

09:10 Could J.R. Ritchie Be Atlanta's X-Factor?

11:44 The Dodgers' Pitching Advantage

12:34 Atlanta's Problem With High-Velocity Fastballs

17:06 Shohei Ohtani & Freddie Freeman Questions

20:18 Braves-Dodgers Predictions

21:05 Padres-Brewers NLDS Preview

25:26 How the Schedule Impacts Jacob Misiorowski

27:49 Milwaukee's Rotation After Misiorowski

32:45 How Dangerous Is the Brewers Offense?

35:24 Can San Diego Stop Milwaukee on the Bases?

36:59 Breaking Down the Bullpens

39:36 Milwaukee's Bullpen vs. Mason Miller

41:12 Brewers & Padres Can Both Hit Velocity

42:40 Padres-Brewers Predictions

43:19 Closing the Tab on the Phillies

47:23 Evaluating the Bryce Harper Era

48:12 What Should Philadelphia Do Next?

52:11 The Phillies' Aging Lineup

55:29 A Wild Trade Idea for Philadelphia

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The MLB Wild Card round comes down to one final elimination game — and Rates & Barrels is going LIVE for Phillies-Braves Game 3.

Join DVR and Eno starting in the 7th inning as Philadelphia and Atlanta battle for a spot in the NLDS. We’ll react LIVE to the biggest moments, pitching decisions and late-game strategy as the final Wild Card series is decided.

Then we turn our attention to the American League Division Series.

The ALDS matchups are set:

⚾ Yankees vs. Rays

⚾ White Sox vs. Guardians

How do the Yankees match up with Tampa Bay after advancing through the Wild Card round? Can the White Sox keep their surprising postseason run going against Cleveland? Which rotations, bullpens and lineup matchups could ultimately decide each series?

We’ll break down both ALDS matchups, identify the biggest players and X-factors to watch, and get you ready for the next round of the 2026 MLB Playoffs.

Bring your questions and reactions to the LIVE chat as we watch the end of Phillies-Braves and turn the page to the Division Series.

Like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss any of our LIVE postseason coverage!

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#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Phillies #Braves #Yankees #Rays #WhiteSox #Guardians #ALDS #Postseason #RatesAndBarrels

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The 2026 MLB Wild Card Day 1 is in the books and what a day it was— Rates & Barrels will be back with you LIVE to break down everything from Day 2 of the Wild Card Series.

Join DVR and Eno during the 7th inning of the final game of the day as they recap all four Wild Card matchups, react to the biggest performances and turning points, and break down what's next for each series.

Which teams put themselves in position to advance? What did we learn from the pitching matchups? Which decisions could shape the rest of the Wild Card round? And what should we be watching when the teams get back on the field Thursday?

Bring your questions and reactions to the chat as we recap Day 2 and get you ready for Day 3 of the MLB postseason.

Like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss our LIVE Wild Card coverage Wednesday and Thursday.

#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #WildCard #Postseason #Baseball #RatesAndBarrels

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The 2026 MLB Playoffs are underway — and Rates & Barrels went LIVE to break down a wild Day 1 of the Wild Card Series.

DVR and Eno recap all four Wild Card Game 1s, reacting to the biggest performances, turning points and decisions that shaped the opening day of the MLB postseason.

Austin Riley delivered a huge three-run homer to lift Atlanta past Philadelphia, the White Sox knocked off Houston, the Yankees shut out Boston in the Bronx, and Michael King dominated as San Diego rolled past the Cubs.

What did we learn from the pitching matchups? Which Game 1 performances are sustainable? And what adjustments do the Phillies, Astros, Red Sox and Cubs need to make with their seasons now on the line?

DVR and Eno break it all down and preview Wednesday’s four Game 2 matchups.

Bring your questions and reactions to the chat, and make sure to like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss our LIVE Wild Card coverage Wednesday and Thursday.

#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #WildCard #Postseason #Baseball #RatesAndBarrels

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The 2026 MLB Wild Card Series is here.

DVR and Eno break down all four Wild Card matchups before Tuesday's postseason quadruple-header, digging into the key stats, pitching matchups and tactical advantages that could decide each best-of-three series.

Can the Phillies finally get their offense going against Chris Sale and the Braves? Philadelphia had to push all the way through the final day of the regular season, leaving its pitching plan complicated for Game 1.

The surprising White Sox head to Houston to face an Astros team with plenty of October experience — but major questions in its starting rotation. Could the power in these two lineups turn White Sox-Astros into the highest-scoring series of the Wild Card round?

The Yankees and Red Sox renew their rivalry in the Bronx. Boston brings one of the most left-handed pitching staffs we've seen in the postseason, creating fascinating lineup decisions for New York — while Aaron Judge's availability remains one of the biggest questions entering the series.

Finally, the Cubs travel to San Diego for a rematch of last year's Wild Card Series. Chicago has one of the best offenses in the postseason field, while the Padres counter with an elite bullpen and a lineup that could run directly into one of the Cubs' biggest defensive strengths.

Plus, DVR and Eno make their picks for all four Wild Card Series and look ahead to what the winners could face in the Division Series.

And join Rates & Barrels LIVE Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! We'll go live during the seventh inning of the final game of the night to recap the day's Wild Card action and preview what's coming next.

Like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss any of our postseason coverage.

#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #WildCard #Postseason #Baseball #RatesAndBarrels

First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026

Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social

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e-mail: [email protected]

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

00:00 2026 MLB Wild Card Preview

00:36 The Wild Card Round Is Here

01:31 Why Do So Few Wild Card Series Reach Game 3?

02:41 Phillies vs. Braves

03:32 What's Wrong With These Two Offenses?

07:41 Chris Sale Gives Atlanta the Game 1 Edge

08:31 How Will Philadelphia Handle Its Pitching?

09:51 Who Wins Phillies-Braves?

11:44 Who Would the Dodgers Rather Face?

13:16 Rates & Barrels LIVE Wild Card Coverage

13:53 BREAK

14:36 White Sox vs. Astros

14:59 Houston's Starting Pitching Problem

16:16 How Should Chicago Pitch Yordan Alvarez?

18:30 Could This Series Become a Track Meet?

19:53 Can the Young White Sox Handle October?

22:18 Houston's Huge Premium-Velocity Advantage

23:22 Is This the Series Most Likely to Reach Game 3?

24:16 Who Would Cleveland Rather Face?

26:23 Who Wins White Sox-Astros?

27:08 Red Sox vs. Yankees

27:31 Boston's Historic Left-Handed Pitching Staff

28:34 How Do the Yankees Adjust to All Those Lefties?

32:23 Does Boston's Handedness Close the Pitching Gap?

33:48 Boston's Elite Bullpen

34:34 Who Wins Red Sox-Yankees?

35:39 BREAK

36:00 Cubs vs. Padres

36:19 Can Chicago Hit San Diego's Pitching?

38:55 Will Ground Balls Sink the Padres?

42:53 Why the Cubs' Offense Is Built for October

44:48 Who Wins Cubs-Padres?

46:41 Who Would the Rays Rather Face?

47:25 Who Would the Brewers Rather Face?

48:35 LIVE Wild Card Coverage This Week

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The 2026 MLB Playoffs are set! DVR and Eno break down all 12 postseason teams, examining the strengths, weaknesses, pitching staffs, offenses and underlying numbers that could determine who survives October.

The Milwaukee Brewers enter as the NL's No. 1 seed after a franchise-record 103 wins, but will their lack of home-run power matter in October? The Los Angeles Dodgers are chasing a third straight World Series title with another loaded roster, while the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies round out a fascinating National League playoff field.

In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays earned the No. 1 seed behind elite run prevention, speed and roster depth. The Cleveland Guardians once again bring pitching and contact to October, while the Houston Astros somehow won the AL West at 81-81 despite major questions behind Hunter Brown in their rotation.

The New York Yankees may have the most imposing starting rotation in the AL, but Aaron Judge's availability looms over their Wild Card matchup against the Boston Red Sox. Boston counters with a deep bullpen and a healthier lineup, while the surprising Chicago White Sox bring legitimate power — and plenty of questions about how their young pitching will handle October.

Finally, DVR and Eno make their first postseason predictions: AL champion, NL champion, World Series winner and World Series MVP.

Who are you picking to win the 2026 World Series?

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e-mail: [email protected]

Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe

Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis

Editor: McEnroe Francis

00:00 2026 MLB Playoff Preview

00:49 Does the Regular Season Matter in October?

05:42 Breaking Down All 12 Playoff Teams

06:05 Milwaukee Brewers: The NL’s No. 1 Seed

10:58 Can Milwaukee Handle Premium Velocity?

13:18 Why the Brewers’ Offense Works

17:14 Los Angeles Dodgers: Can They Three-Peat?

20:27 The Dodgers’ Ridiculous Pitching Depth

23:43 Atlanta Braves: How Dangerous Are They?

29:47 BREAK

30:28 San Diego Padres: Built for a Short Series?

31:51 Does San Diego Have the Worst Playoff Rotation?

34:26 The Padres’ Bullpen Can Shorten Games

38:11 Chicago Cubs: Elite Offense, Pitching Questions

41:06 Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 40-40 Season

43:44 Philadelphia Phillies: Can the Offense Wake Up?

46:54 Philly’s Problem Against Premium Velocity

49:14 How Do the Phillies Handle Game 1?

51:51 BREAK

52:13 Tampa Bay Rays: The AL’s No. 1 Seed

56:15 Why Tampa Bay’s Lineup Is So Pesky

1:01:32 Cleveland Guardians: Better Than Last Year?

1:05:58 Houston Astros: An 81-81 Division Champion

1:08:05 Can Houston’s Rotation Survive October?

1:11:01 New York Yankees: The AL’s Best Rotation?

1:13:51 The Aaron Judge Question

1:17:04 Boston Red Sox: Can the Lineup Score Enough?

1:20:36 How Good Is Boston’s Rotation Without Crochet?

1:23:19 Boston’s Bullpen Might Be Its Biggest Weapon

1:24:47 Chicago White Sox: October’s Surprise Team

1:26:07 Can Chicago’s Young Pitching Hold Up?

1:29:46 DVR & Eno Make Their Playoff Predictions

1:30:20 Who Wins the AL Pennant?

1:30:50 Who Wins the NL Pennant?

1:31:38 World Series Picks

1:32:25 World Series MVP Picks

1:33:47 Final Thoughts

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Pat Murphy joins Starkville! This week, Jayson and Doug sit down with the Brewers manager to talk about Milwaukee’s home run philosophy, the team’s secret sauce for October, navigating tough roster conversations, and his unique leadership style. Murphy also discusses Jacob Misiorowski’s rapid ascendance, the impact a Brewers championship could have beyond Milwaukee, and why mentoring players is one of the best parts of the job.

Plus, Jayson and Doug debate the American League LVPs, including Cal Raleigh and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and make the case for what makes a true “winner” in baseball. And in Strange But True, the Brewers clinch the division in a particularly Brewer way.

Rundown:

0:00 Today’s Lineup

00:48 Welcome to Starkville

07:31 LVP Awards

14:18 UP NEXT

14:22 Pat Murphy

15:13 Maintaining Pitching Continuity

17:35 Brewers and Home Runs

20:29 Winning In October

24:40 Tough Conversations

26:16 Leadership Style

27:33 Not Satisfied Yet

29:41 “No One Believes in Us” Tactic

32:54 Jacob Misiorowski’s Ascendance

38:41 Impact Outside of Milwaukee?

41:09 Passion for Mentorship

45:36 Pocket Pancakes

46:58 UP NEXT

47:07 Strange But True

Follow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.social

Follow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.social

Follow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.social

E-mail: [email protected]

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

Thumbnail Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.