Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

Eno, DVR, and Jed discuss a brutal day at the office for Ryan Pressly and Chase Meidroth, before looking at the Orioles' sluggish start to 2025 and the rash of injuries that have played a role along the way, as well as the organization's approach to pitching. Plus, they talk about the changes in Seattle where the Mariners have put together a top-five offense to begin the season, and wonder if new...

Will Sammon joins Eno and DVR to discuss the Mets' increasing distance from 'LOL Mets' thanks to their continued growth in pitching development throughout the organization. Plus, they discuss the ongoing questions around Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña's path to lock down the second-base job, and changes to Mark Vientos' approach that haven't paid off yet. Plus, they discuss bloated ratios, Dylan Ceas...

Eno and DVR discuss the likely season-ending injury for Triston Casas among several other absences that popped up over the weekend including Yordan Alvarez, Shota Imanaga (both on the IL since recording), Freddy Peralta and Corbin Burnes. They also discuss BABIP as a tool to help find buy-low targets and pickups, and marvel at Aaron Judge's .500 BABIP to begin the season before looking at how Coby...

Eno and DVR discuss the surprising early May demotion to Triple-A for Jake Burger, and look at some of the biggest movers on the O-Swing% leaderboard  from 2024 to 2025. Plus, they discuss another injury for Mike Trout, Jazz Chisholm's shift to the IL, and a few intriguing names to consider on the waiver as the weekend begins. Rundown 3:40 Jake Burger Optioned to Triple-A 10:02 O-Swing% Changers:...

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss the strike zone, which is shrinking in 2025. They dig into why that changes have taken place and consider a few implications of that adjustment. Plus, they look at a trio of underperforming starting pitchers through the first month of the season including Zac Gallen, who may have started a turnaround Thursday against the Mets, Sandy Alcántara, and Aaron Nola. Story fro...

Eno, DVR, and Jed discuss a story from David Adler of  MLB.com  about Aaron Judge's batting stance adjustments throughout an elite calendar year at the plate. Plus, they look at four hitters off to great starts to determine if there is more than just a fast start under the hood. Join Our Six Picks Group -- Session 2 begins Thursday May 1st! https://ottoneu.fangraphs.com/sixpicks/league/67  (passwo...

Chris Welsh joins and Eno and DVR to discuss several long-term risers and fallers as the first month of the season winds down. Is an uptick in production just around the corner for Jordan Walker as he continues to show elite bat speed? Is this the last chance to make a deal for Dylan Crews and Jordan Lawlar before everything clicks? Should you lower the ceiling expectations for Anthony Volpe? And,...

Eno and DVR discuss the early exit for Tyler Glasnow on Sunday due to a shoulder issue and a new favorite emerging from the Dodgers' pitching depth as they look to round out the back of their injury-plagued rotation. Plus, an impressive return for Eury Pérez in his first rehab game, a closer change in the Bronx, and mailbag questions about being cautious with velocity increases and the slow start...

Eno, Paul Sporer & Niv Shah talk about the latest injury news around the league. They also break down some of the hot pickups/drops, Eno's new updated pitcher rankings, some waiver wire adds for the weekend and Niv's hot dog review of the Baltimore Dog. Rundown 1:53- Kyle Hart has been optioned by the Padres 7:48- Joc Pederson- should he stay or should he go? 11:21- Kumar Rocker heads to the I...

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss the Orioles' slow start and mounting pitching injuries and wonder -- is this a 2025 playoff team? Plus, they dig into four fast-starting pitchers in search of potential breakouts, and how teams can try to combat increasingly aggressive basestealers within the constraints of the pitch clock and limited disengagements. Rundown 6:44 Do You Expect the Orioles to Make the P...

Eno, DVR, and Jed discuss news and notes from around the league including injuries for Emmanuel Clase and Cristopher Sánchez and MLB's biggest three-team rivalries, before digging into the new-look Mariners' offense and Julio Rodriguez's slow start on the heels of a slight downturn at the plate in 2024. Rundown 4:20 MLB's Biggest Hate Triangle 9:17 Why Night Games on Getaway Day are Suboptimal 15:...

C. Trent Rosecrans joins Eno and DVR to discuss the Reds -- including Andrew Abbott's fast start and track record of posting ERAs below his projections -- the ascent of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo's missing strikeouts amidst good results, and questions around the quality and depth of the Cincinnati bullpen. Plus, they examine the profile of Nick Kurtz, who has been promoted to the big leagues by th...

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion of Chandler Simpson by the Rays and attempt to determine how his short-term outlook for playing time and long-term ceiling will come together. Plus, they dig into mailbag questions about the early struggles of Devin Williams and Emmanuel Clase, making the choice between slow-starting bats and surging waiver-wire options in shallow leagues, and where the money went...

Eno and DVR discuss the setback for Grayson Rodriguez and the fallout for the Orioles' rotation, the promotion of Luke Keaschall as the Twins deal with a few injuries on their depth chart, and weekend waiver pickups to consider with Ottoneu found and Rates & Barrels Senior Hot Dog Correspondent Niv Shah. Rundown 1:09 Grayson Rodriguez Has a Setback 10:34 Luke Keaschall Gets the Call to the Twi...

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss the return of Spencer Strider before digging into Eno's recent story with Britt Ghiroli and Jen McCaffrey examining the progress of hitting tech and development and the efforts to close the gap on pitching. Plus, they discuss the challenge of game-planning for Jacob Wilson, and the early struggles of Gavin Williams. Eno's story with Britt & Jen ($): https://www.nyt...

Eno, DVR, and Jed discuss baseball's annual celebration of Jackie Robinson Day, before examining the Cubs' decision to demote Matt Shaw at Triple-A, the challenge of balancing present needs with long-term player development, and expectations for a trio of fast-starting starting hitters - including Ben Rice, Spencer Torkelson, and Tyler Soderstrom. Rundown 1:44 Baseball Celebrates Jackie Robinson D...

Lance Brozdowski joins Eno and DVR to discuss new pitches that should make a big long-term difference including changes to Max Fried's sinker and a larger change to Max Meyer's overall arsenal, before looking at a few Triple-A standouts and explaining why it's so difficult to analyze pitching with different baseballs in play until pitchers reach Triple-A. Rundown 2:00 Max Fried's Adjusted Two-Seam...

Eno and DVR discuss a big weekend for the Cubs, who took two of three from the Dodgers in Los Angeles including a blowout on Saturday night, but revealed that Justin Steele will have season-ending arm surgery. They discuss the need for more pitching in Chicago even prior to Steele's injury, and add the Cubs to the Sandy Alcantara sweepstakes. Plus, they discuss what a Pete Crow-Armstrong extension...

Eno and DVR discuss the Twins' contemplation of a six-man rotation to potentially incorporate David Festa and Zebby Matthews into their starting mix, the Brewers' heavy use of fastballs for third season in a row and why (beyond a rash of injuries) they might have been interested in Quinn Priester. Plus, they look at early playing time splits from job battles and expected platoons, and answer mailb...

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss the surging Kyren Paris and strange feats, in the face of Jesse Chavez signing with Atlanta for the *sixth* time in his career. Plus, they look at several pitchers that have significantly altered their arm angle this season in pursuit of staying health -- including Garrett Crochet, Paul Skenes, and Cole Ragans -- MacKenzie Gore's excellent start to the 2025 campaign, a...

Eno, DVR, and Jed take a spin around the league as April injuries pile up, and take a deep dive into a matchup between José Ramírez and José Soriano from Friday's Guardians-Angels matchup. Plus, they answer a mailbag question inquiring about team's patience with switch hitters despite poor splits, inspired by Elly De La Cruz. Rundown 1:06 Jackson Merrill to the IL; Early Exits for Fernando Tatis J...

Jen McCaffrey joins Eno and DVR to discuss a two-month stretch for the Red Sox that has been packed with a year's worth of storylines including the offseason odyssey of Rafael Devers following should injuries in 2024, the arrival of Alex Bregman, the debut and extension of Kristian Campbell, and much more. Plus, they look back at the showdown between two aces in San Francisco as Hunter Greene is l...

Eno and DVR discuss the massive deal for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays -- 14 years, $500 million -- as extension season rolls further into April. They also wonder if the Jays will be able to supplement the face of their franchise effectively and snap a postseason losing streak that stretches back to 2016. Please participate in our listener survey! theathletic.com/athletic/survey25 (Three...

Eno and DVR discuss a mishap that landed Freddie Freeman on the IL, a closer change in Pittsburgh with the demotion of David Bednar, a few heavily added players in ottoneu ahead of the weekend with Niv Shah, and their picks for an on-air, five-round pitcher breakout draft featuring several players that may be available in shallow leagues. Please participate in our listener survey! theathletic.com/...

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss another round of extensions as the Red Sox continue to secure long-term parts of their core with Garrett Crochet and Kristian Campbell inking new deals, Ketel Marte tacks on extra years with the D-backs, Jurickson Profar takes an 80-game suspension for a positive PED test as the Braves fall to 0-7, and Esteury Ruiz gets a fresh start with the Dodgers. Plus, we wonder i...