The Athletic

Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

Sports EN ↓ 1057 episodes

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,...

Author

The Athletic

Category

Sports

Podcast website

www.nytimes.com

Latest episode

Jul 11, 2026

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Episodes

Four Intriguing Players for a Round of Trade, Hold, or Extend 13.05.2026

Would you trade, hold, or extend Nick Kurtz right now? CJ Abrams? Ben Rice? The answers might surprise you. Eno, Jed, and DVR break down all three in their favorite new game, "Trade, Hold, or Extend," then shift to two of baseball's hottest prospects: A.J. Ewing, who made a splash in his MLB debut for the Mets on Tuesday, and Henry Bolte, the Athletics outfielder just called up from Triple-A. Rund...

Four Teams We Haven't Discussed Enough 12.05.2026

Eno, Britt, and DVR hit the quarter mark of the season with a look at the Blue Jays’ lack of power and speed, questions surrounding the rotation, and concerns about Louis Varland’s heavy workload in the closer role. Later, DVR puts Eno and Britt to the test with his latest trivia challenge before the crew dives into the Pirates, Cardinals, and White Sox. Rundown: 2:00 DVR's Tattoo Promise 2:50 The...

The Dodgers' IL Shuffle Continues & Buster Posey Makes Another Deal 11.05.2026

Eno and DVR discuss the recent returns of pitchers Blake Snell and Carlos Rodón, breaking down how the two hard-throwing lefties looked on the mound this weekend. They also preview Mookie Betts’ return to the Dodgers’ lineup Monday and what his presence means for the rest of the offense. Later, the guys analyze the trade that sent Giants catcher Patrick Bailey to the Guardians. Rundown: 00:35 Week...

Starkville | Baseball’s Most Unhittable Pitcher & Terry Francona 09.05.2026

Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville explain why Mason Miller may be the most unhittable pitcher in MLB history before discussing the toughest pitcher Doug ever faced. Later, they’re joined by Terry Francona — Doug’s former manager, Jayson’s old neighbor, and current Reds skipper — to talk about his return to the dugout, memories of managing Doug in Philadelphia, and the joy of watching Elly De La Cruz...

Weekend Waiver Preview: Robby Snelling Gets the Call! 08.05.2026

Eno and DVR preview top prospect Robby Snelling’s highly anticipated big league debut and discuss expectations for the rookie left-hander. Later, they open the mailbag to answer questions about the closer market, Liam Hicks, and Will Warren. Plus, Ottoneu founder and Senior Hot Dog Correspondent Niv Shah joins the show to break down Yankees prospect Spencer Jones, along with delivering his latest...

Quantifying Deception & The Rays’ Fast Start 07.05.2026

Eno, Trevor, and DVR unveil Trevor’s new deception model, digging into how it works, what it’s designed to measure, and the challenges of quantifying deception. They also break down the current leaders in deception among starters and relievers, and reveal where listeners can access the model (Hint: coming soon to Discord!). Later, they bring back How I’d Pitch This Guy with a look at Junior Camine...

What Is Happening with Fernando Tatis Jr.? 06.05.2026

Eno, Jed, and DVR dig into the early-season struggles of Fernando Tatis Jr., examining what’s gone wrong at the plate and how he can get back on track. They also take a look at the scorching start from Matt Olson and debate whether his trajectory points toward Cooperstown. Later, they break down Framber Valdez drilling Trevor Story, which led to Valdez’s ejection on Tuesday night. Rundown: 2:40 Fe...

Can the Tigers Survive the Absence of Tarik Skubal? 05.05.2026

Eno, Britt, and DVR break down a Tarik Skubal-less Detroit Tigers and ask whether the team can stay afloat until the reigning AL Cy Young winner gets back. Then, the trio turns to the LA Angels — what's gone wrong for the organization, and is trading Mike Trout actually on the table? Later, Eno and DVR sit down with The Athletic's Phillies writer Matt Gelb to talk through a potential homecoming fo...

The May Roster Shuffle: Promotions & Demotions Aplenty 04.05.2026

Eno and DVR break down the numerous promotions and demotions around MLB, including Bryce Eldridge and Joe Mack earning their calls to the big leagues, while Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez and Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe head back to Triple-A. The guys also work through a wave of injuries around the league and discuss the passing of legendary broadcaster John Sterling. Rundown: 2:00 Bryce Eldr...

Starkville | Is It Ever Too Early to Fire a Manager? 02.05.2026

Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville are back in Starkville to dig into the stunning April firings of Alex Cora and Rob Thomson, breaking down how it unraveled and what it reveals about the ever-shrinking margin for managers. Then, MLB broadcaster Ron Darling joins the show to share his thoughts on the moves, the mounting pressure on today’s skippers, the Mets’ ongoing struggles, and his memories of th...

Pitching Trade Targets & Weekend Waiver Wire Considerations 01.05.2026

Eno and DVR return for another Fantasy Friday—starting with some food takes, including Eno’s “try everything once” mindset and DVR revealing he’s never had oysters. From there, they shift to baseball, breaking down potential fantasy trade targets among starting pitchers and identifying arms to buy low or sell high. The guys close out the show by discussing a new Athletics closer: Jack Perkins. Run...

Where Have All the Closers Gone? 30.04.2026

Eno and DVR welcome former major leaguer Adam Ottavino to the show to discuss closers and why more relievers are racking up saves this season than in years past. The guys also dive into bullpen management and the ever-perplexing question of why closers tend to struggle in non-save situations. Later, Eno and DVR share their desert island favorite starting pitchers and reveal the biggest OOPSY dropp...

The Rockies' Pitching is Changing, Can You Trust It? 29.04.2026

Eno and DVR open up the mailbag to dig into the Rockies’ surprising success on the mound and what the organization can do to make Colorado a destination for free agent pitchers. Plus, the guys break down Location+, OOPSY fallers, and whether Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. will get back on track. Rundown: 1:12 Justin Steele has a Setback 8:52 The Most Injured Teams in Baseball 10:45 Pete...

The Phillies Part Ways with Rob Thomson & Taking Control of the Mets 28.04.2026

Eno, Britt, and DVR are back and fired up as the trio breaks down the Phillies’ decision to fire manager Rob Thomson, what led to the move, and how Dave Dombrowski’s club can get back on track — including whether brighter days are ahead for Jesús Luzardo. From there, they shift to the Mets’ ongoing struggles, exploring what needs to change before things spiral further, and wrap on a high note with...

Big Changes in Boston, Worry About Nola & Senga 27.04.2026

Eno and DVR welcome The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey to the show to break down the shocking firing of Red Sox manager Alex Cora, along with five other coaches, and where the organization goes from here. Later, Eno and DVR dig into two struggling righties — Kodai Senga and Aaron Nola — discuss Zack Wheeler’s return, and track ‘Where The Money Went’ on the waiver wire this past weekend. Rundown: 0:32 Re...

Starkville | Walt Weiss On The Tackle Heard ‘Round The World 25.04.2026

Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville welcome Braves manager Walt Weiss to Starkville to discuss his red-hot team, his brawl-saving tackle, and the time he swiped dirt from the old Yankee Stadium. They also break down another Strange But True, this time featuring Angels All-Star outfielder Mike Trout and his home run barrage in the Bronx a couple weeks ago. Rundown: 0:00 Starkville Is Back! 3:40 ABS Rar...

Waiver Wire Pickups: Is Payton Tolle a Must Add? 24.04.2026

Eno and DVR celebrate Fantasy Friday as they break down some of the league’s top young arms and hitters who could be available on the open market. Then, they’re joined by the show’s Senior Hot Dog Correspondent and Ottoneu founder Niv Shah to talk closers—and deliver his latest hot dog reviews. Rundown: 1:46 Francisco Lindor Placed on IL 4:18 Waiver Wire Bats to Consider 12:09 Nathan Church Gettin...

Making Sense of April Surprises 23.04.2026

Eno, Trevor, and DVR are full of surprises for Thursday's episode as they discuss the comebacker that disappeared in Mariners' starter Logan Gilbert's jersey, the upstart Cincinnati Reds, and Juan Soto's baffling comments on not texting with his Mets teammates during their recent road trip. The guys close out the show by highlighting three players who they didn't expect to have so much success thi...

Kyle Tucker's Slow Start & Rookie Hitter Reviews 22.04.2026

Eno, Jed, and DVR dig into what the returns of injured stars Juan Soto and Zack Wheeler mean for their teams. Then, Kyle Tucker's sluggish start in LA and whether lingering injury effects might be to blame. Plus, a look at some of the most impressive rookie bats in the league right now -- including the swing-and-miss similarities of Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto as their big-league careers...

Does Anything Good Come From Firing a Manager in April or May? 21.04.2026

Eno, Britt, and DVR break down the losses of Edwin Díaz and Raisel Iglesias and what each team does now at closer. Then, Nationals writer Spencer Nusbaum joins to talk about Washington's rebuild, including the emergence of CJ Abrams. And Astros writer Chandler Rome stops by to get into Joe Espada's job security, Tatsuya Imai's rough start, and Houston's growing injury list. Rundown: 0:40 Edwin Día...

Is It Too Early to Worry About Underperforming Aces? 20.04.2026

Eno and DVR break down the early-season struggles of lefties Garrett Crochet and Cole Ragans. Then they hit the mailbag to talk about the NL East leading Braves and White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami. They wrap up by looking at where the money went in fantasy leagues over the weekend. Rundown: 3:30 Garrett Crochet Rebounded Sunday 10:12 Cole Ragans’ Rough Outing 16:40 Braves’ Hot Start 28:23 Mets...

Starkville’s Back with Aaron Boone 18.04.2026

Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville are back with a new episode of Starkville! The guys discuss their plans for the re-launch of the show and the implementation of ABS. Then, Yankees manager Aaron Boone joins to talk about his childhood as part of the Boone family, his wide array of impersonations and his very specific skill with baseball cards. Rundown: 0:00 Starkville Is Back! 5:35 ABS In MLB 12:05...

Pitching Rank Season with Paul Sporer 17.04.2026

Eno is joined by Paul Sporer of The Sleeper and the Bust podcast to discuss Out of the Park Baseball and starting pitcher rankings. Then, the guys dive into the waiver wire to see what hitters may be available to pick up this weekend. Rundown: 1:34 Out of the Park Baseball 5:20 Starting Pitcher Rankings 21:24 Deep Part of the Pool 47:13 Available Bats This Weekend Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky....

Do the Guardians Have Their Own Max Fried? 16.04.2026

Eno, Trevor, and DVR break down a difficult night for closers Andrés Muñoz and Devin Williams in non-save appearances. The crew then reviews scouting reports for rookie pitchers before concluding with a look at what’s next for Noelvi Marte who was optioned by the Reds this week. Rundown: 00:58 Andrés Muñoz's Rough Night 11:45 Devin Williams Gives Up Damage in LA 17:31 Pirates Rookie Bubba Chandler...

Baseball Honors Jackie Robinson & Kevin McGonigle Cashes In 15.04.2026

Eno, Jed, and DVR celebrate Jackie Robinson Day as all teams around MLB honor the first player to break the color barrier. Then, the guys discuss Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle’s new deal, Noah Schultz’s big league debut with the White Sox, and take a closer look at the Brewers’ issues at the plate and in the bullpen. Rundown: 2:35 It’s Jackie Robinson Day! 17:41 Tigers SS Kevin McGonigle Signs...

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