Baseball Bar-B-Cast

Jordan Shusterman is back from vacation, and he re-joins Jake Mintz to take stock of the stretch run as October rapidly approaches. The hosts kick off the show by drafting their "main characters" for the remainder of the regular season—the 10 key individual players who will dictate, impact, and define the playoff picture, including Fernando Tatis Jr., Kyle Schwarber, Ronald Acuña Jr., Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jose Ramirez, and Cal Raleigh.

 

Next, the guys break down the Seattle Mariners calling up the top pitching prospect in baseball, Kade Anderson. They discuss what makes the former LSU star so special, how he fell to the Mariners at the third pick in the draft, and what to expect from his debut against the Cubs. They also address the bizarre update surrounding Ketel Marte, who was moved from the restricted list to the 10-day IL following a team meeting with Diamondbacks executives.

 

Finally, it’s Friday, which means an action-packed edition of "The Good, The Bad, and The Uggla”. Highlights from "The Good" include Milwaukee Brewers prospect Sawyer Strosnider hitting his first pro home run directly to his dad on the party deck and a gamer throwing a perfect game on MVP Baseball 2005. "The Bad" touches on Jorge Polanco's season-ending ankle surgery and a non-definitive foul pole camera replay in Baltimore. "The Uggla” features a raccoon reaching through the Citi Field floorboards for peanuts and Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev revealing his diehard obsession with the Cincinnati Reds.

 

Timetamps:

(00:00) — Introduction & Jordan Returns From Vacation

(01:57) — Rest-of-Season Main Characters Draft (Tatis, Schwarber, Acuña, PCA, J-Ram & More)

(37:48) — Mariners Call Up #1 Pitching Prospect Cade Anderson

(48:30) — Ketel Marte's Bizarre IL Update & Diamondbacks Meeting

(56:15) — The Good: Dad Catches Son's 1st Pro HR & MVP 2005 Perfect Game Milestone

(01:05:10) — The Bad: Jorge Polanco's Season-Ending Injury & Orioles Foul Pole Camera Controversy

(01:13:55) — The Uggla: Citi Field Raccoon & Daniil Medvedev's Diehard Reds Obsession

(01:21:28) — Weekend Series Preview & Outro

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
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📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
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⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

The reigning back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers have overwhelmingly been the odds-on favorite to win their 10th championship this season and become the first team to three-peat since the ’90s New York Yankees dynasty. However, despite their big offseason acquisitions and trading for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal before the trade deadline, could there be something — or even someone — that will get in the way of the Dodgers pulling off the ultra-rare feat?

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz is joined by MLB writer for The Athletic Katie Woo as they try to figure out which players, despite the Dodgers’ success this season, could get in the way of Los Angeles being the last team standing in October for a third straight year. They also dive into Edwin Díaz landing back on the injured list and why the yips chatter is growing louder for Kyle Tucker this season.

Later in the show, Jake and Katie talk about the curious situation involving Ketel Marte not showing up for Monday’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park and whether there’s a larger problem at play here. They then discuss how Mark Walter’s recent selling spree could affect the Dodgers at some point, the concerning situation of ICE detaining a coach from the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners getting bludgeoned by the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

 

1:44 - The Opener: Dodgers’ Threat to Three-Peat

22:28 - We Need to Talk About: Marte Going MIA

35:40 - Around the League: Walter’s Selling Spree

44:01 - ICE Detains a Padres Coach

49:42 - Brewers Bludgeon the Mariners

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

Every season, we see baseball players make their long-anticipated debut in the bigs. It’s the culmination of hard work and time paying off to achieve one of the hardest goals a baseball player can work toward. However, what we saw on Saturday at Wrigley Field might’ve been the most incredible debut by a player in the history of the sport.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz is joined by broadcaster Kevin Brown as they recap the amazing debut by Joshua Báez of the St. Louis Cardinals, which included him hitting three home runs in his first MLB game and helped the Redbirds take the series from their divisional rivals. They then discuss Báez’s background that led to him getting the call-up and how a broadcaster like Kevin goes about handling the moment for TV.

Later in the show, Jake and Kevin take a look at the current crazy American League Wild Card standings, which have the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox leading the way, all the while seven other teams are vying for the third and final spot. They then get into the troubles that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker is facing while playing at home, Paul Skenes’s start getting bumped to Wednesday and recap all the other action from baseball this weekend.

2:23 - The Opener: Joshua Báez’s debut

21:33 - We Need To Talk About: AL Wild Card standings

51:43 - Who gets the last spot?

54:30 - Turbo Mode: Tucker’s home issues

1:03:35 - Paul Skenes gets bumped

1:06:43 - Weekend action recap

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

Major League Baseball returned to Iowa for the first time since 2022 on Thursday night, with the Philadelphia Phillies defeating the Minnesota Twins in the third-ever Field of Dreams game. Taking place a stone’s throw away from the famous field from the movie, the game featured everything a baseball fan could want, including Kyle Schwarber going deep twice.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz is joined by MLB insider for SNY Chelsea Janes, as they recap all the action from the Phillies’ victory out by the corn, the theatrics behind the pregame festivities and why the game is important to baseball. They then try to figure out what other unique locations MLB could play a regular-season game in and how Bryce Harper is embracing his corny side.

Later in the show, Jake and Chelsea dive into the complications that the New York Yankees and the New York Mets are facing this season, including how much the Bronx Bombers are relying on Aaron Judge to return this season and if David Stearns can fix the mess that’s in Flushing. They end the show by making their picks for this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

 

0:37 - The Opener: Phillies win in Iowa, next unique ballpark

12:56 - Recap of Field of Dreams game

22:37 - Can David Stearns fix the Mets?

37:30 - Will Aaron Judge return?

46:12 - The Good

51:19 - The Bad

54:58 - The Uggla

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

When the 2026 season started with Paul Skenes having the roughest start of his MLB career against the New York Mets, many thought it would be just a blip on his greatness radar. Unfortunately, it might have been a precursor for things to come this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates ace, and now we’re left wondering if something is truly wrong with Skenes.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss yet another concerning start for the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner and try to figure out what’s going on with Paul Skenes. They make a comparison between him and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who has also suffered a major falloff after his great 2025 campaign, and discuss whether the World Baseball Classic can be used as an excuse.

Later in the show, Jake and Jordan talk about Jackson Merrill being at the forefront of the San Diego Padres’ hot offense, which has put them right back in the mix for a potential NL Wild Card spot. They then highlight the Chicago White Sox giving out a Pope hat as part of a giveaway, Tim Anderson announcing his retirement and play a fun game surrounding the 2026 Heart and Hustle Award winners.

 

1:11 - The Opener: Paul Skenes’ concern grows

19:13 - Cal Raleigh’s falloff from 2026

29:53 - Around The League: Pope mania reaches new high

37:25 - Tim Anderson announces retirement

43:37 - Padres are getting hot

48:38 - Thoughts on the Phillies

54:23 - Heart and Hustle Award game

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_