Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

Tony Gwynn Jr. and Mark Grant, the voices of the San Diego Padres, join Starkville!

This week, Jayson and Doug sit down with Tony and Mark to break down how the Padres went from losing a bunch of games to becoming one of the best teams in baseball, whether San Diego fans are getting spoiled by AJ Preller’s annual wheeling and dealing, and the teams that have stood out most to them this season.

Plus, the guys discuss the Padres’ massive sale, what the new ownership group has in mind, the atmosphere at Petco Park, and why other small market teams can’t seem to replicate San Diego’s success.

Later, the guys head to Strange But True for an unbelievable minor league twist, where Hickory Crawdads teammates Brady Ebel and his brother Trey somehow combine to finish the same at bat.

Rundown:

0:00 Today’s Lineup
00:37 Welcome to Starkville
8:33 UP NEXT: TONY GWYNN JR. AND MARK GRANT
5:33 Padres - What Happened?
17:05 Are San Diego Fans Spoiled By AJ?
23:26 Stand out Teams for Mark and Tony
25:09 SD Team Sold for 3.9 Billion!
27:53 Can Other Small Markets Copy SD?
31:03 New Manager, New Process?
34:05 Mark Grant Makes Good Impression
38:39 UP NEXT: STRANGE BUT TRUE
38:47 Strange But True Trey and Brady Ebel finish the same at-bat

Follow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.social
Follow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.social
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.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: Tony Gwynn Jr. & Mark Grant
Producer: Matthew Chilelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Which players have emerged as unexpected fantasy baseball difference-makers down the stretch? DVR and Eno look back at the biggest surprise producers of the last 30 days before digging into the final Weekend Waiver Preview of the 2026 MLB season.

First, Baseball News You Should Know covers the possibility of Garrett Crochet returning as a bullpen weapon for the Red Sox, Willson Contreras dealing with a bruised hand and the Nationals discussing a potential contract extension with Cade Cavalli. DVR and Eno examine Cavalli’s breakout, the impact of adding a cutter and what a long-term deal with Washington could look like.

Plus, Walbert Ureña continues his impressive rookie season after seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts against Minnesota, Jared Young is dealing with concussion symptoms after a scary collision at first base and the latest developments surrounding Mark Walter.

The mailbag tackles Dillon Dingler’s second-half decline, how a potential delay to the 2027 MLB season could impact veteran pitchers like Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler, and one of fantasy baseball’s most frustrating problems: What do you do with the player you can never seem to start at the right time?

Finally, DVR and Eno search the waiver wire for the last players who could help fantasy managers win their leagues. Ryan Johnson, Cristian Javier, Griffin Conine, Adael Amador, Jonah Cox, Henry Bolte and Victor Mesa Jr. are among the late-season options discussed — along with several players who could carry intriguing value into 2027.

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

#MLB #FantasyBaseball #WaiverWire #MLBProspects #RatesAndBarrels

00:00 Intro
00:34 Baseball News You Should Know
00:59 Could Garrett Crochet Join Boston’s Bullpen?
02:24 Willson Contreras Day-to-Day With Bruised Hand
05:33 Nationals in Extension Talks With Cade Cavalli
07:14 How Cade Cavalli Changed His Arsenal
09:21 MLB’s Biggest Strikeout-Rate Risers
11:43 Walbert Ureña’s Breakout Rookie Season
14:36 Jared Young Injured in Scary Collision
15:55 Latest Developments Surrounding Mark Walter
18:10 Mailbag
18:24 What Happened to Dillon Dingler?
21:24 How Could a Delayed 2027 Season Impact Pitchers?
26:53 The Fantasy Player You Can Never Get Right
29:38 DVR’s Cam Smith Problem
32:07 How to Handle Frustrating Fantasy Players
35:17 Sage Performance Review
35:39 Surprise Hitters of the Last 30 Days
37:40 The Hottest Pitchers of the Last 30 Days
41:11 Final Weekend Waiver Preview
41:37 Late-Season Starting Pitcher Adds
47:43 Final Waiver Wire Hitters
48:04 Griffin Conine Is Getting an Extended Look
50:01 Middle Infield Waiver Options
52:28 Late-Season Outfield Adds
53:12 Is Jonah Cox a 2027 Sleeper?
54:22 Henry Bolte & Victor Mesa Jr.
56:12 Final Thoughts
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Which MLB contenders have the bullpens built to survive October? DVR, Eno Sarris and Trevor May rank the best relief units in the American and National Leagues and break down which teams they trust most heading into the MLB postseason.

The Guardians headline a tightly packed group of American League bullpens, with the Red Sox, Yankees, Astros and Rays all making their cases. The guys examine Cleveland’s high-leverage arms, Houston’s top-end talent, Boston’s impressive results and whether the Yankees have enough depth to shorten games in October. They also explain why Tampa Bay may be missing the overpowering arm that becomes so valuable in the postseason.

In the National League, the Padres have built one of baseball’s deepest and most dangerous bullpens around Mason Miller, but the Brewers, Dodgers, Braves and Phillies all enter the conversation. Has Milwaukee quietly assembled an elite October bullpen? Can the Dodgers piece together enough healthy arms? And should Philadelphia’s actual results make us skeptical despite strong underlying projections?

Plus, Baseball News You Should Know covers another late-season injury concern for the Dodgers after Blake Snell exits with a groin strain, Aaron Judge leaving early with leg tightness, Jackson Holliday landing on the IL and Kyle Bradish’s season coming to an end.

Finally, Closing the Tab turns to the Seattle Mariners. After entering the season as heavy favorites in the AL West, Seattle fell well short of expectations as Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and several key players took steps backward or battled injuries. But the biggest question may be the pitching staff: Have T-Mobile Park and Seattle’s run-prevention environment caused us to overrate just how good Bryan Woo, George Kirby and the Mariners’ rotation really are?

DVR, Eno and Trevor examine Seattle’s surprising home-road pitching splits, what could change in 2027 and why a disappointing season doesn’t necessarily mean the Mariners’ successful pitching-development model is broken.

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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](mailto:ratesandbarrels@gmail.com)
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis

#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Mariners #FantasyBaseball #RatesAndBarrels
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Trea Turner, Manny Machado and José Ramírez beginning to show real signs of decline — or are MLB’s aging stars poised to bounce back in 2027?

DVR, Eno Sarris and Jed Lowrie dig into three veteran hitters on the wrong side of 30 and examine what the underlying numbers tell us about where their careers are headed. José Ramírez continues to provide plenty of fantasy value despite an injury-altered season, while Manny Machado’s declining hard-contact numbers raise questions about how much elite production remains.

Then DVR takes a deep dive into Trea Turner’s surprising 2026 season. Turner’s bat speed still looks healthy, but his production against fastballs has fallen, his swing decisions have changed and his overall offensive production has dropped significantly. A surprising comparison with Xander Bogaerts may also offer a better idea of what Turner could look like over the second half of his long-term contract.

First, Baseball News You Should Know covers another huge moment from Junior Caminero, Pete Alonso’s return to Citi Field, the Guardians-White Sox playoff battle and a razor-thin AL West race between the Astros and Rangers.

Finally, Closing the Tab heads to Washington. The Nationals have made a massive offensive leap in Year 1 under their new front office, but questions remain about their pitching development. DVR, Eno and Jed look at what changed in Washington, the next wave of pitching prospects and the rapid ascent of 18-year-old Eli Willits.

Plus, Jed puts a new spin on Name That Dude with the help of a pack of 2026 Topps Chrome.

#MLB #FantasyBaseball #TreaTurner #MannyMachado #JoseRamirez #RatesAndBarrels

00:00 Intro
02:03 Junior Caminero Is Fearless at the Plate
04:42 Pete Alonso Returns to Citi Field
08:31 Guardians-White Sox Delivers Again
11:29 Astros & Rangers Battle for the AL West
15:09 What's Going On With Wyatt Langford?
16:49 Decline or a Cliff?
17:12 Is José Ramírez Finally Slowing Down?
25:32 What’s Happening to Manny Machado?
37:39 What Happened to Trea Turner?
38:59 Turner’s Fastball & Swing-Decision Problems
40:25 Trea Turner vs. Xander Bogaerts
45:45 Closing the Tab: Washington Nationals
49:50 Can the Nationals Fix Their Pitching?
57:14 Eli Willits’ Incredible Rise
57:34 Name That Dude: Topps Chrome Edition
1:00:40 The Mystery Player Revealed

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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
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are the New York Yankees getting healthy at exactly the right time? DVR and Eno break down the latest MLB playoff picture before Yankees reporter Brendan Kuty joins the show to discuss Aaron Judge finding his timing, the Yankees’ October rotation and a fascinating decision between George Lombard Jr. and Anthony Volpe.

The American League playoff race remains unsettled as the White Sox battle Cleveland, Toronto and Texas for position. DVR and Eno also examine the Padres’ biggest October weakness, a crushing Blue Jays loss and whether heavy workloads eventually catch up with MLB relievers.

Plus, the Rays have already punched their ticket to October. DVR and Eno examine Tampa Bay’s lineup, rotation and bullpen and assess whether the Rays have everything they need to make a deep postseason run.

#MLB #Yankees #Rays #MLBPlayoffs #RatesAndBarrels #baseballgame

00:00 MLB Playoff Race Heats Up
01:44 White Sox Take a Huge Game From Cleveland
06:31 Can the Padres’ Rotation Survive October?
09:30 Blue Jays Let One Get Away
11:57 How Much Is Too Much for MLB Relievers?
14:29 Four More Teams Punch Their Playoff Ticket
17:37 Aaron Judge Looks Like Aaron Judge Again
22:02 Is the Yankees’ Rotation Getting Healthy at the Perfect Time?
23:56 George Lombard Jr. or Anthony Volpe?
27:09 Did Volpe Fix His Swing in Triple-A?
28:43 Can the Yankees Still Steal the AL East?
30:04 What Could Sink the Yankees in October?
33:35 Are the Rays Built for an October Run?

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
Rates & Barrels MERCH https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/

Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.