Home Podcasts Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball
Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

The Athletic 1032 Episodes Aug 22, 2026

Rates & Barrels is a daily baseball podcast hosted by Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris. They analyze MLB news, statistics, and fantasy baseball strategy through an analytical lens. The show also features contributions from Britt Ghiroli, Trevor May, and Jed Lowrie, and includes a Saturday segment called Starkville with Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville.

Episodes

Starkville | Mike Krukow Reflects on 36 Seasons in the Booth
Starkville | Mike Krukow Reflects on 36 Seasons in the Booth Aug 22, 2026 1:12:09 Legendary Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow will be retiring from the booth after 36 seasons. He shares the emotional outpouring he's received from fans, the gut-wrenching moment he told his partner Duane Kuiper, and highlights from a lifetime of stories — from homering off Steve Carlton to lessons learned from Harry Caray and Vin Scully. Rundown: 00:00 Intro02:35 Showing Love to Local Voices10:43 We
Who Are MLB’s REAL Aces? Eno’s Updated Starting Pitcher Rankings
Who Are MLB’s REAL Aces? Eno’s Updated Starting Pitcher Rankings Aug 21, 2026 1:10:06 Who are the best starting pitchers in baseball right now — and which arms actually belong in the ace tier? Eno Sarris returns with his updated starting pitcher rankings as DVR breaks down some of the toughest calls, biggest risers and most surprising placements on the board.Blake Snell is back in the top 10, landing at No. 10 after another strong stretch, while Drew Rasmussen climbs all the way to
Shohei Ohtani Isn’t the No. 1 Pick?! Inside the First 2027 Fantasy Draft
Shohei Ohtani Isn’t the No. 1 Pick?! Inside the First 2027 Fantasy Draft Aug 20, 2026 1:02:20 Shohei Ohtani isn't the No. 1 pick in the first major 2027 fantasy baseball draft. So who went ahead of him? Ryan Bloomfield of Baseball HQ and Bubba and the Bloom joins DVR to break down the Meatball Draft and give us an incredibly early look at the 2027 fantasy baseball rankings, ADP, breakouts, bargains and potential first-round picks.Pete Crow-Armstrong steals the No. 1 spot in the Meatball Dr
Why Kevin McGonigle's Rookie Season is HISTORIC + MLB'S Next Wave of Stars
Why Kevin McGonigle's Rookie Season is HISTORIC + MLB'S Next Wave of Stars Aug 19, 2026 1:09:52 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 ha
Is Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming for Shohei Ohtani’s NL MVP?
Is Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming for Shohei Ohtani’s NL MVP? Aug 18, 2026 54:23 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 change
The AL Wild Card Race Is Absolute Chaos — Who Gets In?
The AL Wild Card Race Is Absolute Chaos — Who Gets In? Aug 17, 2026 1:07:08 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
Starkville | Andrew Friedman Isn’t Apologizing for the Dodgers
Starkville | Andrew Friedman Isn’t Apologizing for the Dodgers Aug 15, 2026 51:01 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 o
Why the Mariners Sent Top Prospect Colt Emerson Back to Triple-A
Why the Mariners Sent Top Prospect Colt Emerson Back to Triple-A Aug 15, 2026 1:09:36 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 tri
Inside Buster Posey’s Difficult First Years Running the Giants
Inside Buster Posey’s Difficult First Years Running the Giants Aug 13, 2026 1:15:25 Buster Posey is a San Francisco Giants legend — but could running the team put that legacy at risk? Britt Ghiroli joins DVR and Eno Sarris to discuss her exclusive reporting on Posey’s transition from franchise icon to president of baseball operations, the decisions that have defined his tenure so far, and what comes next for the struggling Giants.They also break down the major roster decisions of
Guardians Collapse Opens Up a WILD AL Central Race
Guardians Collapse Opens Up a WILD AL Central Race Aug 12, 2026 1:09:00 The Cleveland Guardians once looked like they were cruising toward an AL Central title. Now, after losing 13 of 17, Cleveland has fallen back into one of baseball’s most unpredictable division races. DVR and Eno Sarris are joined by Zack Meisel to break down what has gone wrong for the Guardians and whether they can turn their season around.The guys take a deep dive into the AL Central playoff rac
What MLB Pitchers Are REALLY Thinking on the Mound
What MLB Pitchers Are REALLY Thinking on the Mound Aug 12, 2026 1:18:35 How do pitchers handle doubt, failure and the pressure of knowing one bad pitch can change an outing? Trevor May joins DVR and Eno for a conversation about the mental side of pitching in the major leagues. Trevor explains the battle to convince yourself that you belong, how pitchers build confidence and an on-field persona, and why the mental side of the game can be every bit as important as mecha
The Truth Behind Boston's Breakout
The Truth Behind Boston's Breakout Aug 10, 2026 1:00:51 The Red Sox aren't cheating—they're simply playing better baseball.DVR and Eno break down why Boston's offense has transformed over the last three months, examining the coaching changes, a dramatically more aggressive approach in the strike zone and why the numbers suggest this turnaround is completely sustainable—not the result of anything nefarious. They also react to the growing online conspira

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