Eno and DVR discuss an exciting weekend in the World Baseball Classic including Venezuela's win over Japan, and a U.S.-Dominican Republic game that left Fernando Tatis Jr. in the on-deck circle as a missed call behind the plate punched the Americans' ticket into the final. Plus, they catch up on a few spring injuries, and discuss sleeper starting pitchers (outside the Top 250 overall in recent drafts), before checking in with Senior Hot Correspondent and Ottoneu Founder Niv Shah about Cody Ponce, Harry Ford, and a few relievers getting a lot of draft-season love on the platform. They also preview a few intriguing matchups for this year's 'Taste of the Majors' stand Nationals Park.
Rundown
1:33 Venezuela Defeats Japan in WBC Classic to Advance to Semis
5:33 USA-Dominican Republic; Disappointed by Cory Blaser’s Missed Call
11:29 Every Bullpen Spot Matters
12:53 Seiya Suzuki: Leaves Early Saturday with Knee Discomfort
15:26 Injury Updates: Zack Neto, Jeremy Peña, José Ramírez, Francisco Lindor & Corbin Carroll
21:33 Sleeper Starting Pitchers
38:55 Spring Training Stuff+ Risers
46:25 Where Does Rankings Confidence Begin to Slide?
53:00 Niv Shah is Back!
55:13 Interest in Cody Ponce Following KBO Success?
1:02:11 Buying Harry Ford as a 2026 Sleeper?
1:05:48 'Niv's Guys for 2026'
1:08:50 Advanced Scouting for 'Taste of the Majors' at Nats Park
1:19:25 Still Time to Pick Up an Ottoneu Team for 2026!
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Niv on Bluesky: @ottoneu.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
With: Niv Shah
Editor: Jason Potere
","author_name":"The Athletic"}