Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

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-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels#FantasyBaseball #MLB #FantasyFriday #WaiverWire #RatesAndBarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis00:00 — Fantasy Friday: September Targets & MLB News02:05 — Carlos Correa Nearing a Return03:56 — Eugenio Suárez & TJ Friedl Hit Waivers06:15 — Mason Winn Injury & Cardinals Playing Time12:19 — Denzel Clarke Nearing a Return15:18 — Roki Sasaki Heads to the IL17:52 — Can Hitters Really Change Their Swing Decisions?23:08 — James Wood’s Improved Approach24:24 — Jordan Walker’s Breakout & 2027 Value32:54 — Cam Smith vs. Lawrence Butler39:21 — Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets39:42 — Why Tristan Peters Is Still Available44:21 — Rafael Flores & Mickey Gasper46:44 — Elliot Ramos & Taylor Ward Stock Down48:00 — Best Two-Start Pitchers for Next Week49:23 — Drop Grayson Rodriguez?53:03 — Deep-League Streamers & Saves Targets

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-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisContributor: Jed LowrieExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Baseball #Yankees #Mariners #RatesAndBarrels00:00 — Final AL Playoff Predictions03:12 — The AL Playoff Race Is Chaos08:38 — Can the White Sox Win the AL Central?13:19 — Why Cleveland Can Make a September Run16:49 — DVR Still Believes in the Mariners19:35 — Mariners vs. Astros in the AL West23:17 — When a Contender Starts Falling Apart24:59 — Can the Blue Jays Save Their Season?29:19 — Final AL Playoff Picks31:41 — Carson Benge's Breakout Rookie Season34:40 — Why Hitters Change Their Stance46:30 — What Fernando Tatis Jr. Changed52:14 — Name That Dude Returns56:21 — The Mystery Player Revealed56:56 — What Should Be on the Back of a Baseball Card?

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-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisContributor: Jesús Cano & Nick PiecoroExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis#CalRaleigh #Mariners #MLB #phillies #RatesAndBarrels0:00 Today on Rates & Barrels02:01 Cal Raleigh Breaks Out With Three Homers05:28 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 Outlook12:37 What’s Wrong With Zack Wheeler?16:18 Can Wheeler Turn It Around Before October?17:57 Braves-Phillies NL East Race Tightens18:36 What’s Going On With Ketel Marte?20:37 Inside the Diamondbacks’ Clubhouse25:13 Arizona’s Wild Card Outlook28:45 Corbin Carroll & the D-backs’ Young Core33:31 Braves’ NL East Lead Is Shrinking37:35 What’s Gone Wrong for Atlanta?40:41 Ronald Acuña Jr. & the Braves Offense46:06 Atlanta’s Rotation & October Outlook51:56 Can the Braves Hold Off the Phillies?58:12 Final Thoughts

The Houston Astros have fired general manager Dana Brown as their season and the American League playoff race descend into chaos. DVR and Eno break down what went wrong for Houston, and what's next for their pitching plan and roster-building misses. Plus, the Dodgers lose Andy Pages for approximately four to five weeks, prompting a deeper discussion about outfield defense and how we should evaluate metrics like Outs Above Average, Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast Fielding Run Value.Then it's time to answer your mailbag questions. What has happened to Bryce Miller? Eno digs into Miller's declining velocity and inconsistent command — and explains why Kade Anderson's arrival creates even more pressure on Miller's rotation outlook. Plus, Andrew Painter's arsenal changes, Matthew Liberatore, Justin Martinez and the best fantasy baseball waiver-wire options for the stretch run.Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis#houstonastros #dodgers #mlb #baseball #alwest #mlbplayoffs 00:00 Today on Rates & Barrels01:27 Chicago Meetup & Show Business03:05 AL Playoff Race Remains Total Chaos05:34 Could a Losing Team Make the Playoffs?07:39 Astros Fire GM Dana Brown09:03 What Has Changed Inside the Astros?09:49 Houston’s Analytics Brain Drain12:16 What Went Wrong Under Dana Brown?13:18 Astros’ Pitching Plan & Roster Misses15:20 Can Houston Build Another Contender?17:58 AL West Front Offices in Turmoil19:31 Can the Mariners Still Win the AL West?21:22 Dodgers Lose Andy Pages22:41 How Should We Measure Outfield Defense?27:41 Who Steps Up for the Dodgers?29:09 Is It Time to Move On From Bryce Miller?30:11 What’s Wrong With Bryce Miller?32:21 Kade Anderson Changes Miller’s Outlook34:00 Can You Still Start Bryce Miller?36:56 Jacob Lopez’s Surprising Run39:01 Has Cleveland Unlocked Joe Adell?40:13 Can Better Coaching Really Fix a Hitter?44:04 Kade Anderson’s First MLB Start46:15 Eno’s Kade Anderson Evaluation48:22 Is Kade Anderson Already Overvalued?51:06 Andrew Painter Is Making Real Changes52:57 Matthew Liberatore & Two-Start Pitchers56:15 Justin Martinez Returns57:32 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire

Legendary Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow will be retiring from the booth after 36 seasons. He shares the emotional outpouring he's received from fans, the gut-wrenching moment he told his partner Duane Kuiper, and highlights from a lifetime of stories — from homering off Steve Carlton to lessons learned from Harry Caray and Vin Scully. Rundown: 00:00 Intro02:35 Showing Love to Local Voices10:43 Welcoming Mike Krukow13:47 The Magic of Kruk and Kuip17:04 How Kruk and Kuip Evolved20:30 The Hard Decision to Step Away26:05 Surprising Fans28:30 Krukow's Baseball History35:36 Most Important Item38:58 The Hall of Fame41:56 The Remainder of the Season43:42 Sliding Doors47:41 Playing in Candlestick Park49:53 Silly Kruk and Kuip Stories57:29 Farewell Mike Krukow59:27 Strange But TrueFollow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.socialFollow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.socialE-mail: starkville@theathletic.comStarkville Hotline: (347) 313-8371Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Jayson Stark & Doug GlanvilleWith: Mike KrukowProducer: Tauri J. Miller

Who are the best starting pitchers in baseball right now — and which arms actually belong in the ace tier? Eno Sarris returns with his updated starting pitcher rankings as DVR breaks down some of the toughest calls, biggest risers and most surprising placements on the board.Blake Snell is back in the top 10, landing at No. 10 after another strong stretch, while Drew Rasmussen climbs all the way to No. 11 as his health and consistency continue to change the way we value him. How sustainable are the pitch-mix and process changes that have helped pitchers like Snell and Rasmussen reach another level?Then there’s Bryan Woo at No. 22. Woo has flashed ace-level stretches and was pushed aggressively during fantasy draft season, but familiar home-road splits and questions about sustaining an elite strikeout rate may leave him looking more like a high-end SP2 than a true fantasy ace.Then, one of baseball’s top pitching prospects arrives. Kade Anderson is set to make his MLB debut Saturday against the Chicago Cubs after skipping Triple-A. The Mariners’ left-hander has dominated Double-A pairing elite command with a four-pitch arsenal.Finally, the guys preview the fantasy baseball waiver wire, including Ethan “Tugboat” Holliday, Ethan Pecko’s MLB debut, Jackson Kent’s second look and several pitchers who could matter during the fantasy playoffs.Rates & Barrels with Derek Van Riper and Eno Sarris delivers fantasy baseball strategy, MLB analysis, advanced pitching metrics, prospects, waiver-wire advice and everything you need for the stretch run.Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe FrancisThumbnail Credit: Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(SNELL)Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images(WOO)00:00 Eno’s Updated Starting Pitcher Rankings03:24 Blake Snell Is Back in the Top 1005:16 Drew Rasmussen Keeps Rising09:00 Logan Henderson vs. Kyle Harrison11:48 Managing Pitcher Workloads Down the Stretch12:43 When Will Chase Burns Be Shut Down?14:58 Bryan Woo at No. 22 — Ace or SP2?17:57 Why Is Joey Cantillo Ranked No. 40?20:38 What’s Going Wrong With José Soriano?25:19 Kade Anderson Is Coming to the Majors26:35 What Should We Expect From Kade Anderson?27:37 What Troy Melton Can Teach Us About Anderson31:01 How Historic Is Anderson’s Double-A Dominance?35:14 Does Dominating Double-A Predict MLB Success?36:58 Projecting Kade Anderson in the Majors38:18 Where Would Anderson Rank Right Now?41:10 Should You Add Kade Anderson?42:33 Why Second-Half Stats Can Mislead Us42:52 Pete Crow-Armstrong & the Second-Half Trap43:43 What Brice Turang Tells Us About Recency Bias45:01 Can Second-Half Slumps Create Draft Bargains?51:08 Waiver Wire & Baseball News51:29 A’s Hit Hard By Season-Ending Injuries55:09 Orioles Playing-Time Opportunities57:43 What’s Going On With Ketel Marte?59:09 Jordan Lawlar Gets His Opportunity1:01:31 Rookie Pitchers to Target on Waivers1:01:54 Tugboat, Ethan Pecko & Jackson Kent1:07:00 Ethan Pecko’s Stuff & Role1:07:28 What Happened With Tugboat’s Fastball?#FantasyBaseball #BlakeSnell #BryanWoo #MLB #Pitching #KadeAnderson #RatesAndBarrels

Shohei Ohtani isn't the No. 1 pick in the first major 2027 fantasy baseball draft. So who went ahead of him? Ryan Bloomfield of Baseball HQ and Bubba and the Bloom joins DVR to break down the Meatball Draft and give us an incredibly early look at the 2027 fantasy baseball rankings, ADP, breakouts, bargains and potential first-round picks.Pete Crow-Armstrong steals the No. 1 spot in the Meatball Draft. PCA's combination of power and speed has pushed him all the way to the top of this early 2027 fantasy baseball draft board, ahead of Ohtani and the rest of baseball's biggest fantasy stars. The guys discuss how much weight to give a breakout season and when fantasy managers should trust a young player enough to pay a first-round price.Then there's Paul Skenes. One of baseball's biggest pitching stars falls all the way to the fifth round amid questions about his recent performance and health. Plus, Edwin Díaz falls to Round 11, Gavin Williams continues his rise, Zach Neto becomes a potential buy-low candidate and position eligibility creates some unexpected complications. The guys break down how pitching risk, injuries and the final weeks of the 2026 MLB season could completely reshape this draft board by next spring.Before looking ahead to 2027, DVR and Mac break down the latest chaos in the American League playoff race, including Pete Alonso's apparent go-ahead home run against the Yankees that was ruled foul. With seven teams separated by only 2.5 games around the final AL Wild Card race, virtually nobody has been able to separate from the pack.Plus, the Tigers' recent struggles, the Twins' surprising playoff position and one extremely important question: what is the greatest baseball video game of all time?#ShoheiOhtani #FantasyBaseball #MLB #FantasyBaseball2027 #PeteCrowArmstrong #PaulSkenes #Baseball #RatesAndBarrelsLike, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisContributor: Ryan BloomfieldExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis00:00 The First Look at 2027 Fantasy Baseball02:11 Pete Alonso’s Controversial Foul Ball04:03 The AL Wild Card Race Is a Mess05:20 Twins, Tigers & the Crowded AL Playoff Picture08:10 Pirates Walk Off the Tigers11:22 What’s the Greatest Baseball Video Game Ever?14:57 Inside the First 2027 Fantasy Baseball Draft17:15 How Do You Draft for 2027 This Early?19:56 Ohtani, Judge & the Top of the 2027 Draft Board21:05 Jordan Walker & Konnor Griffin Make Huge Leaps23:56 Proven Stars vs. Breakout Players25:15 Buying Low on Vlad Jr., Acuña, Raleigh & Marte29:56 Does Draft Position Really Matter?32:04 Where Are the Top Starting Pitchers?33:57 Why Drafting Pitchers Early Is So Risky38:44 Finding the Next Breakout Fantasy Ace43:18 How Far Should Paul Skenes Fall?45:52 Is Edwin Díaz a Massive 2027 Bargain?49:14 José Ramírez & Corbin Carroll Value50:08 Gavin Williams’ Rise52:09 Is Zach Neto a 2027 Bounce-Back?54:36 Late-Round Values & Position Eligibility

Kevin McGonigle isn't just running away with the American League Rookie of the Year race — he's already playing like one of the best players in baseball. DVR, Eno Sarris and Jed Lowrie take a deep dive into McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt and an incredibly deep 2026 MLB rookie class to determine which young stars have the skills to sustain their early success.On the National League side, JJ Wetherholt has emerged as another remarkably polished young hitter. The guys compare Wetherholt and McGonigle's swings, plate approaches, defense and power potential — including why Wetherholt's deeper contact point could leave him with more untapped power as he develops.The rookie conversation doesn't stop there. Munetaka Murakami presents a fascinating power-versus-strikeout dilemma, while Konnor Griffin, Carson Benge and Sal Stewart offer very different combinations of tools, plate discipline, defense and long-term upside. Griffin's elite physical tools in particular make him one of the most intriguing young players to watch heading toward 2027.Plus: Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong continue their nightly NL MVP battle, Fernando Tatis Jr. makes one of the catches of the year, and the Brewers hang 22 runs on the Mariners.First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisContributor: Jed LowrieExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe FrancisThumbnail Courtesy: Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images00:00 MLB’s Loaded Rookie Class02:14 Ohtani vs. PCA, Tatis’ Incredible Catch & Brewers Score 2203:26 Kevin McGonigle’s Historic Rookie Season12:42 Kevin McGonigle vs. JJ Wetherholt22:35 Munetaka Murakami’s Extreme Power Profile29:50 Konnor Griffin’s Superstar Upside32:19 Carson Benge & Sal Stewart38:22 Which Other Rookies Have Star Potential?39:52 Rookies Flying Under the Radar42:06 A.J. Ewing & George Lombard Jr.49:01 Cole Carrigg52:46 Sam Antonacci56:56 Ryan Waldschmidt1:00:41 What’s Going On With Travis Bazzana?1:04:05 Which Rookie Baseball Cards Should You Buy?#KevinMcGonigle #DetroitTigers #MLB #MLBRookies #RookieOfTheYear #Baseball #FantasyBaseball #RatesAndBarrels