Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

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-2026

Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.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
Contributor: Jed Lowrie
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis

Thumbnail Courtesy: Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

00:00 MLB’s Loaded Rookie Class
02:14 Ohtani vs. PCA, Tatis’ Incredible Catch & Brewers Score 22
03:26 Kevin McGonigle’s Historic Rookie Season
12:42 Kevin McGonigle vs. JJ Wetherholt
22:35 Munetaka Murakami’s Extreme Power Profile
29:50 Konnor Griffin’s Superstar Upside
32:19 Carson Benge & Sal Stewart
38:22 Which Other Rookies Have Star Potential?
39:52 Rookies Flying Under the Radar
42:06 A.J. Ewing & George Lombard Jr.
49:01 Cole Carrigg
52:46 Sam Antonacci
56:56 Ryan Waldschmidt
1:00:41 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
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Pete Crow-Armstrong is making a serious push in the National League MVP race. After another huge night for the Chicago Cubs — including two home runs and a walk-off blast against the White Sox — PCA now has back-to-back 30/30 seasons and has put himself squarely into the NL MVP conversation with Shohei Ohtani.

DVR and Eno break down PCA's remarkable surge and how dramatically his outlook has changed. Since June 2, PCA has hit 23 home runs with 19 stolen bases and a 197 wRC+ — the best mark among all MLB hitters during that span. Has Pete Crow-Armstrong reached another level, and can he really challenge Ohtani for the 2026 NL MVP Award?

Plus, the guys discuss the strange situation surrounding Ketel Marte and the Arizona Diamondbacks. DVR and Eno examine what we know, the apparent communication breakdown between Marte and the D-backs, and whether the situation could eventually impact his future in Arizona.

There is also significant injury news for the New York Yankees, as Max Fried returns to the injured list with an elbow bone bruise just as Carlos Rodón returns to the Yankees rotation. What should New York expect from Rodón down the stretch, and how concerning is Fried's recurring elbow issue as the Yankees prepare for a potential postseason run?

Then, The Athletic's Chandler Rome joins the show for a deep dive on the Houston Astros and the AL West race. The Astros have surged to the top of the division despite a season filled with pitching injuries. The group examines Hunter Brown's command, Houston's pitching development, its uncertain postseason rotation and whether the lineup around its biggest stars is deep enough for October.

On the National League side, The Athletic's Dennis Lin joins the show to break down the San Diego Padres' playoff push. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill have helped revive the Padres' offense as San Diego attempts to hold onto an NL Wild Card spot.

Finally, the guys break down a wild Padres night on the bases and one important lesson: do not run on Carson Benge. After San Diego repeatedly challenged Benge's arm, DVR and Eno look at MLB's strongest outfield arms and how baserunning decisions can swing games during a tight playoff race.

Rates & Barrels with Derek Van Riper and Eno Sarris delivers MLB analysis, advanced baseball metrics, fantasy baseball insight, player development, prospects and the biggest stories from around Major League Baseball.

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First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026

Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.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
Contributors: Chandler Rome & Dennis Lin
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis

#petecrowarmstrong #cubs #shoheiohtani #NLМVP #mlb #baseball
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The American League Wild Card race is complete chaos. With the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins battling for position in a crowded AL playoff picture, DVR and Eno Sarris break down which teams have the best chance to survive the final weeks of the 2026 MLB season.

The Orioles are playing their way back into the postseason race despite selling at the MLB Trade Deadline, while the Rangers, Tigers and Mariners are all trying to find enough consistency to grab a Wild Card spot. How much should we trust Baltimore's resurgence? Can Texas overcome its pitching concerns? And which of these flawed American League contenders is actually built to make a playoff run?

The guys also look at the Chicago White Sox's sweep of the Detroit Tigers and what it means for the AL Central race. Plus Joshua Baez makes MLB history with an unforgettable debut for the St. Louis Cardinals. Baez homered three times in his first three Major League plate appearance

In the Monday mailbag, DVR and Eno examine how the Tampa Bay Rays continue to find pitching advantages, including their unusual success developing and deploying changeups.

Rates & Barrels is your home for MLB analysis, advanced baseball statistics, fantasy baseball strategy, prospects, player development and everything happening around Major League Baseball with Derek Van Riper and Eno Sarris.

Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!

First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026

Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social

e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rates_barrels?igsh=d2FkZ3RzdW9yd3Ft&igsi=d2FkZ3RzdW9yd3Ft

Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis

00:00 - Today on Rates & Barrels
03:06 - The AL Playoff Picture Is a Mess
03:10 - White Sox Sweep the Tigers
05:10 - What’s Gone Wrong for Detroit?
08:23 - Breaking Down the AL Playoff Race
08:53 - Orioles, Rangers & Mariners Battle for Wild Card
11:56 - Joshua Baez Makes MLB History
12:18 - Breaking Down Joshua Baez’s Incredible Debut
15:00 - Can Baez Overcome the Swing-and-Miss?
26:18 - Mailbag: What Have the Rays Found With Changeups?
29:32 - How Tampa Bay Keeps Finding Pitching
32:25 - George Kirby & Long-Term Pitcher Value
39:13 - Early Look at 2027 Fantasy Hitter Rankings
46:13 - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire
46:21 - How Much FAAB Should You Spend on Joshua Baez?
58:35 - Late-Season Closer Targets

#mlb #mlbplayoffs #orioles #rangers #fantasybaseball
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The Dodgers are ruining baseball—or they’re not. These days, it depends on who you ask. This week, Jayson and Doug go straight to the source, sitting down with Dodgers president Andrew Friedman to get his take on the firestorm, as well as the inside story of how he pulled off the trade for Tarik Skubal. Plus, Jayson and Doug try to make sense of what happened in Toronto, where the Red Sox scored on one of the strangest plays in recent baseball history.
Rundown:
2:55 A Fourth Out in Toronto?
15:33 Andrew Friedman Stops By
15:57 The Rich Get Richer with Tarik Skubal
21:33 Are the Dodgers Ruining Baseball?
29:21 How a Big Deal Goes Down
31:20 Listening to the Players
32:24 Transitioning From Player to GM
33:17 The Awe-Inspiring Shohei Ohtani
36:06 Strange But True
41:10 Doug’s Strange But True Moment
Follow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.social
Follow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.social
E-mail: starkville@theathletic.com
Starkville Hotline: (347) 313-8371
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Hosts: Jayson Stark & Doug Glanville
With: Andrew Friedman
Producer: Jason Potere
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The Seattle Mariners sent Colt Emerson back to Triple-A — so what went wrong for one of baseball’s most talented young prospects? DVR and Eno Sarris break down Emerson’s struggles, his alarming strikeout rate, what Seattle should expect from him going forward and why a reset in the minors could ultimately be the right move for his development.

Plus, Jacob deGrom left his latest start with right triceps fatigue, adding another major injury concern for a Rangers rotation already dealing with the loss of Nathan Eovaldi. DVR and Eno look at potential replacements and break down several pitchers nearing returns, including Edward Cabrera and Carlos Rodón. DeGrom said afterward that he was optimistic the issue wasn't serious, though further evaluation was expected.

The guys also discuss another blown save from Edwin Díaz and whether the Dodgers should temporarily make a change in the ninth inning. Could Tanner Scott become the reliever to roster if Los Angeles gives Díaz a break from closing?

Then Niv Shah joins the show to help navigate fantasy trade deadlines. Is Corbin Carroll worth paying up for? Is Gunnar Henderson becoming a potential 2027 draft-day bargain? And how should fantasy managers value stars like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto as keeper and dynasty decisions loom?

First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026

Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.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
Contributor: Niv Shah
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis

Thumbnail Courtesy: Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

00:00 Today on Rates & Barrels
03:00 Taj Bradley & Field of Dreams Takeaways
05:15 Is Baseball Better Without the Strike Zone Box?
11:01 Brewers Hit Hard by Injuries
15:08 Cooper Pratt’s Fantasy Outlook
18:28 What Went Wrong With Colt Emerson?
24:33 Mariners’ Struggles & Cal Raleigh’s Down Year
27:48 Jacob deGrom Injury & Pitchers Returning Soon
30:45 Is Jared Jones Still a Must-Roster Pitcher?
34:24 Fantasy Waiver Wire: Hunter Dobbins
36:09 Jackson Kent’s Fantasy Potential
40:20 Should Dodgers Make a Change at Closer?
43:07 Fantasy Saves & Bullpen Targets
45:23 Young Shortstops & Fantasy Waiver Targets
45:43 Is Zac Veen Finally Breaking Out?
52:35 Fantasy Baseball Trade Deadline Strategy
53:58 Ohtani, Judge & Soto’s Massive Keeper Prices
59:25 Buy Low on Corbin Carroll?
1:00:36 What Happened to Gunnar Henderson?
1:04:49 Fantasy Value of Gunnar Henderson in 2027
1:05:20 The Chicago Hot Dog Review
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