2026 MLB Playoff Preview: Breaking Down All 12 Teams + World Series Picks

The 2026 MLB Playoffs are set! DVR and Eno break down all 12 postseason teams, examining the strengths, weaknesses, pitching staffs, offenses and underlying numbers that could determine who survives October.The Milwaukee Brewers enter as the NL's No. 1 seed after a franchise-record 103 wins, but will their lack of home-run power matter in October? The Los Angeles Dodgers are chasing a third straight World Series title with another loaded roster, while the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies round out a fascinating National League playoff field.In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays earned the No. 1 seed behind elite run prevention, speed and roster depth. The Cleveland Guardians once again bring pitching and contact to October, while the Houston Astros somehow won the AL West at 81-81 despite major questions behind Hunter Brown in their rotation.The New York Yankees may have the most imposing starting rotation in the AL, but Aaron Judge's availability looms over their Wild Card matchup against the Boston Red Sox. Boston counters with a deep bullpen and a healthier lineup, while the surprising Chicago White Sox bring legitimate power — and plenty of questions about how their young pitching will handle October.Finally, DVR and Eno make their first postseason predictions: AL champion, NL champion, World Series winner and World Series MVP.Who are you picking to win the 2026 World Series?Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: [email protected] our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsRates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis00:00 2026 MLB Playoff Preview00:49 Does the Regular Season Matter in October?05:42 Breaking Down All 12 Playoff Teams06:05 Milwaukee Brewers: The NL’s No. 1 Seed10:58 Can Milwaukee Handle Premium Velocity?13:18 Why the Brewers’ Offense Works17:14 Los Angeles Dodgers: Can They Three-Peat?20:27 The Dodgers’ Ridiculous Pitching Depth23:43 Atlanta Braves: How Dangerous Are They?29:47 BREAK30:28 San Diego Padres: Built for a Short Series?31:51 Does San Diego Have the Worst Playoff Rotation?34:26 The Padres’ Bullpen Can Shorten Games38:11 Chicago Cubs: Elite Offense, Pitching Questions41:06 Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 40-40 Season43:44 Philadelphia Phillies: Can the Offense Wake Up?46:54 Philly’s Problem Against Premium Velocity49:14 How Do the Phillies Handle Game 1?51:51 BREAK52:13 Tampa Bay Rays: The AL’s No. 1 Seed56:15 Why Tampa Bay’s Lineup Is So Pesky1:01:32 Cleveland Guardians: Better Than Last Year?1:05:58 Houston Astros: An 81-81 Division Champion1:08:05 Can Houston’s Rotation Survive October?1:11:01 New York Yankees: The AL’s Best Rotation?1:13:51 The Aaron Judge Question1:17:04 Boston Red Sox: Can the Lineup Score Enough?1:20:36 How Good Is Boston’s Rotation Without Crochet?1:23:19 Boston’s Bullpen Might Be Its Biggest Weapon1:24:47 Chicago White Sox: October’s Surprise Team1:26:07 Can Chicago’s Young Pitching Hold Up?1:29:46 DVR & Eno Make Their Playoff Predictions1:30:20 Who Wins the AL Pennant?1:30:50 Who Wins the NL Pennant?1:31:38 World Series Picks1:32:25 World Series MVP Picks1:33:47 Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat Murphy joins Starkville! This week, Jayson and Doug sit down with the Brewers manager to talk about Milwaukee’s home run philosophy, the team’s secret sauce for October, navigating tough roster conversations, and his unique leadership style. Murphy also discusses Jacob Misiorowski’s rapid ascendance, the impact a Brewers championship could have beyond Milwaukee, and why mentoring players is one of the best parts of the job.Plus, Jayson and Doug debate the American League LVPs, including Cal Raleigh and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and make the case for what makes a true “winner” in baseball. And in Strange But True, the Brewers clinch the division in a particularly Brewer way.Rundown:0:00 Today’s Lineup00:48 Welcome to Starkville 07:31 LVP Awards14:18 UP NEXT14:22 Pat Murphy15:13 Maintaining Pitching Continuity17:35 Brewers and Home Runs20:29 Winning In October24:40 Tough Conversations26:16 Leadership Style27:33 Not Satisfied Yet29:41 “No One Believes in Us” Tactic32:54 Jacob Misiorowski’s Ascendance38:41 Impact Outside of Milwaukee?41:09 Passion for Mentorship45:36 Pocket Pancakes46:58 UP NEXT47:07 Strange But TrueFollow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.socialFollow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.socialE-mail: [email protected] Hotline: (347) 313-8371Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Jayson Stark & Doug GlanvilleWith: Tony Gwynn Jr. & Mark GrantProducer: Matthew ChilelliThumbnail Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Which players actually won fantasy baseball leagues in 2026?DVR and Eno look back at the biggest fantasy baseball values of the season and build their 2026 All-ROI Team — highlighting the late-round draft picks, waiver-wire additions and overlooked players who dramatically exceeded expectations.The guys also revisit their fantasy draft strategies and the lessons they’ll take into 2027. When should you prioritize floor over ceiling? Is “skills over roles” still the best way to find late-round breakouts? And can this year’s success actually help us identify the next Pete Crow-Armstrong or Jacob Misiorowski?Niv Shah joins the show to examine the most profitable players in Ottoneu, including PCA’s enormous return, the difficult keeper decisions coming this offseason and whether there’s a blueprint for finding 2027’s breakout stars.Plus, it’s the final Taste the Majors review of 2026! The Philly Dog gets put to the test, and the crew has some ideas for how MLB’s ballpark hot dog series can take another step forward next season.Before Fantasy Friday begins, DVR and Eno break down the final weekend of the MLB regular season. The Phillies are still fighting to secure their playoff spot, their offense ranks near the bottom of MLB, and using Zack Wheeler on Sunday could complicate their Wild Card rotation.Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: [email protected] our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsRates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisGuest: Niv ShahExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis00:00 Intro00:32 The Final Weekend of Fantasy Baseball02:38 What Did DVR Learn This Fantasy Season?04:40 Rethinking Draft-and-Hold Strategy06:15 Can the Phillies Survive the Final Weekend?10:13 Philadelphia’s Offense Has Been a Disaster11:20 MLB’s Final Playoff Spots13:50 Do You Need Home Runs to Win in October?17:17 Fantasy Friday: The 2026 All-ROI Team17:58 Fantasy Baseball’s Biggest Draft-Day Bargains18:48 Waiting on Catcher Paid Off20:50 Jordan Walker’s Massive Return22:19 The Best Waiver-Wire & Late-Round Finds23:01 Jake McCarthy & Carson Benge Deliver25:37 Sal Stewart Rewards the Skills-Over-Roles Approach26:42 Brandon Lowe & Luis García Jr.29:09 Otto Lopez’s $26 Fantasy Season31:28 Is Kevin McGonigle Too Expensive for 2027?32:05 Miguel Vargas Was a League Winner34:22 Nolan Arenado’s Forgotten Bounceback35:38 Jake McCarthy Thrives in Colorado38:02 Ben Rice & Other Mid-Round Wins39:27 Randy Arozarena’s Big Season39:59 The Biggest Out-of-Nowhere Breakouts40:29 Liam Hicks Comes From Nowhere43:00 Ezekiel Duran’s Breakout46:10 Finding Deep-League Unsung Heroes47:03 Niv Shah Joins Rates & Barrels47:23 Ottoneu’s Most Profitable Players50:03 Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Massive Profit51:52 The Mason Miller Keeper Decision53:18 Difficult Keeper Decisions for 202753:56 How Did PCA & Misiorowski Break Out?58:47 Can You Find the Next PCA?59:20 Why Fantasy Success Isn’t Always Repeatable1:00:46 A 2027 Anthony Volpe Rebound?1:02:50 Taste the Majors: The Philly Dog1:03:16 What Is Actually on the Philly Dog?1:09:26 Our Hot Dog Plea for 20271:13:32 Building the Ultimate Ballpark Hot Dog1:14:25 Farewell to Taste the Majors#FantasyBaseball #MLB #Baseball #FantasyBaseball2027 #RatesAndBarrels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Colorado Rockies are headed toward a fourth consecutive 100-loss season — but for the first time in a while, there are signs that the organization may actually be moving in the right direction.DVR, Eno Sarris and Trevor May close the tab on the 2026 Rockies and examine Colorado's emerging roster-building philosophy. The Rockies dramatically reduced their hitters' strikeout rate, added more contact-oriented bats and began changing how their pitchers attack hitters at Coors Field. But what would an organization truly built to exploit baseball's most unusual environment look like? Trevor uses his experience pitching at Coors to explain which traits could actually work at altitude, while Eno digs into pitch design and whether velocity, gyro sliders, splitters and different types of changeups could provide Colorado with a sustainable pitching strategy. Before that, it's time to close the tab on the Miami Marlins. Miami could finish with a positive run differential for the first time in a full season since 2010, while players such as Otto Lopez have emerged from an extremely inexpensive roster. But does Miami have enough impact talent to take the next step? Plus, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is facing criticism over comments about his massive Blue Jays contract following a disappointing 2026 season. The guys discuss what Vlad meant, the timing of his comments, his injuries and why baseball's salary structure makes the situation more complicated than the reaction suggests. 00:00 Vlad Jr., Marlins & Rockies00:38 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Faces Criticism01:33 Did Vlad Jr.’s Comments Go Too Far?07:52 Comparing Vlad Jr. to Miguel Cabrera08:38 Did Injuries Derail Vlad’s Season?10:55 Why Aren’t the Reds the Brewers?11:34 Is Reds Ownership Part of the Problem?17:37 Why Some Small-Market Teams Keep Falling Behind20:41 Marlins Preview21:22 Closing the Tab: Miami Marlins21:44 Are the Marlins Better Than Their Record?22:46 Miami’s Offense Is Finally Improving26:30 What Is the Marlins’ Identity?31:13 Could Miami Use Starters Out of the Bullpen?32:18 Injuries Hit the Marlins’ Pitching Prospects33:03 Otto Lopez’s Breakout Season34:27 Can Starters Really Pitch Between Starts?38:55 Does Miami Finally Need to Spend?41:15 Is Miami’s Farm System Good Enough?43:51 Closing the Tab: Colorado Rockies44:31 The Rockies Are Actually Getting Better46:34 Colorado’s New Offensive Philosophy46:53 Rockies Dramatically Cut Their Strikeout Rate48:38 Colorado Is Changing Its Pitching Approach49:24 What Actually Works at Coors Field?53:27 Building Hitters for Coors54:27 Colorado’s Veteran Pitching Strategy57:37 How Should the Rockies Develop Pitching?59:41 How Do You Build a Pitcher for Coors?1:05:08 Are the Rockies Finally Moving Forward?Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: [email protected] our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsRates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/Hosts: Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris & Trevor MayExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis#MLB #Baseball #Rockies #ColoradoRockies #Marlins #MiamiMarlins #BlueJays #VladimirGuerreroJr #RatesAndBarrels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally fixed their offense in 2026. So why are they still watching the MLB postseason from home?DVR, Eno Sarris and Jed Lowrie close the tab on the Pirates after a fascinating season in Pittsburgh. The Pirates entered Wednesday fifth in MLB in runs scored after finishing dead last in 2025, while their underlying numbers suggest they may have been significantly better than their actual record.The Pirates have plenty of young pitching behind Paul Skenes. Braxton Ashcraft broke out, Jared Jones returned from Tommy John surgery and Bubba Chandler remains part of a promising rotation. But after another season outside the playoffs, is it finally time for ownership to spend aggressively around this young core?The crew examines Pittsburgh’s defensive problems, high strikeout rate, pitching development and what the Pirates need to add this offseason to finally get back to October.Then, what happened to the Kansas City Royals?Just two years removed from reaching the playoffs, Kansas City took another major step backward in 2026. Injuries to Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic exposed the lack of pitching depth, while a disastrous bullpen helped turn run prevention from one of the Royals’ biggest strengths into their biggest weakness.There are reasons for optimism around Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen, but Kansas City’s pitching numbers tell a much different story. The Royals rank near the bottom of MLB in K-BB%, Stuff+, Location+ and ERA, and their next wave of prospects may still be years away.Plus, Baseball News You Should Know: the Rays clinch the AL East, Andy Green changes course and remains manager of the Mets, Derek Falvey reportedly joins New York’s front office, weather threatens the Red Sox-Cubs weekend series, Shohei Ohtani returns to the Dodgers and Aaron Judge is expected to miss the Wild Card Series.Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: [email protected] our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsRates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/Hosts: Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris & Jed LowrieExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis#MLB #Pirates #PittsburghPirates #Royals #KansasCityRoyals #RatesAndBarrels00:00 Intro00:42 Baseball News You Should Know01:54 Rays Clinch the AL East05:18 Andy Green Stays With the Mets10:04 Derek Falvey Reportedly Joining Mets Front Office12:48 Could Weather Alter Red Sox-Cubs?15:17 MLB’s Final Playoff Races16:52 Shohei Ohtani Returns for Dodgers18:18 Aaron Judge Expected to Miss Wild Card Series19:12 Closing the Tab: Pittsburgh Pirates20:03 Pirates Go From MLB’s Worst to a Top-Five Offense20:25 Oneil Cruz & Konnor Griffin Offer Reasons for Optimism21:11 Were the Pirates Better Than Their Record?23:38 Pittsburgh’s Underlying Numbers Tell a Different Story24:37 The Pirates Have a Defensive Problem28:10 Is It Finally Time for Pittsburgh to Spend?30:55 Can Paul Skenes Bounce Back?32:09 Pittsburgh’s Young Rotation Has Plenty of Upside32:55 Pirates Ownership Needs to Keep Spending33:35 Pittsburgh Still Strikes Out Too Much34:42 Is Pirates Pitch Development Falling Behind?41:07 How Close Is Pittsburgh to Contending?42:40 Closing the Tab: Kansas City Royals43:40 Injuries Expose Kansas City’s Lack of Depth44:26 Royals Go From Elite Run Prevention to Bottom Six45:13 Kansas City’s Pitching Numbers Are Ugly45:49 Reasons for Optimism in the Royals’ Lineup46:33 The Royals Need to Invest in Pitching47:19 Where Is Kansas City’s Future Ace?52:05 How Does Kansas City Fix This?52:29 Salvador Perez Is Finally Showing His Age53:12 Royals’ Farm System Is a Major Concern53:31 Can Kansas City Find Enough Pitching?59:07 Royals’ Massive Home-Road Split Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What went wrong with the New York Mets in 2026? DVR, Eno and Britt Ghiroli close the tab on a massively disappointing Mets season and examine how a roster built around Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor fell out of contention — and what David Stearns needs to fix this offseason.Injuries certainly played a role, with Lindor and Soto both missing significant time, but the problems went much deeper. The crew examines Stearns’ difficult offseason, the Mets’ next managerial decision and why New York’s biggest question might not be resources — but how those resources are being allocated.Then, what happened to the Baltimore Orioles? A young core that once appeared capable of becoming one of baseball’s most dangerous offenses finished much closer to league average than expected.The numbers reveal a fascinating contradiction: Baltimore ranks first in MLB in bat speed and fourth in barrel rate, but 28th in strikeout rate and only 13th in wRC+. Britt breaks down the Orioles’ player-development philosophy, constant coaching changes and why several talented young hitters have struggled to make the adjustments necessary to consistently succeed in the majors.Plus, Baseball News You Should Know: the Red Sox remove the interim tag from Chad Tracy and give him a three-year contract, while Boston also exercises Craig Breslow’s options through 2030. River Ryan returns for Detroit, Dylan Cease avoids surgery, Trey Yesavage returns for Toronto and Andy Pages, Roki Sasaki and Robert Suarez are all on their way back.Finally, the crew looks at everything still up for grabs during the final week of the MLB regular season, including the AL Central battle between Cleveland and Chicago, the Rangers and Astros fighting for the AL West, Tampa Bay trying to clinch the AL East and the remaining National League playoff positioning.Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: [email protected] our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsRates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/00:00 Intro00:34 Red Sox Remove Interim Tag From Chad Tracy01:30 How Chad Tracy Turned Boston Around03:17 Red Sox Commit to Craig Breslow05:12 Why Boston Is Betting on Its Leadership08:37 River Ryan Returns for Detroit10:37 Tigers’ Young Rotation Has Huge Upside12:28 Dylan Cease Avoids Surgery15:28 Trey Yesavage Returns for Toronto17:29 Andy Pages, Roki Sasaki & Robert Suarez Return17:48 What’s Still Up for Grabs?21:19 MLB’s Final-Week Playoff Races23:09 Closing the Tab: New York Mets45:10 Closing the Tab: Baltimore Orioles45:56 What Happened to Baltimore’s Young Core?48:46 Britt’s Orioles Rant49:48 Baltimore’s Revolving Door of Hitting Coaches50:12 Are the Orioles Too Young Everywhere?51:13 Baltimore’s Problems Go Beyond the Manager51:50 Did the Orioles Fall in Love With Tools?52:07 Mike Elias Begins Making Changes53:41 The Numbers Behind Baltimore’s Offensive Problems54:07 No. 1 in Bat Speed, No. 28 in Strikeout Rate55:16 Did Baltimore Sacrifice Too Much Contact?58:29 What Does the Orioles’ Offense Need?59:55 How Baltimore Can Fix Its Lineup1:01:33 Is the Orioles’ Development System Too Demanding?1:03:05 Baltimore’s Rotation Still Has Questions1:03:44 Why Has the Orioles’ Defense Regressed?1:04:22 Orioles Add Another New Voice to Baseball Ops1:04:54 Can Baltimore Fix This in 2027?Hosts: Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris Contributor: Britt GhiroliExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis#MLB #Mets #Orioles #NewYorkMets #BaltimoreOrioles #RatesAndBarrels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Braves have clinched the NL East and the Red Sox secured a Wild Card berth in the American League as the playoff picture continues to come into focus. Eno and DVR discuss the final-week battle for playoff spots and seeds, and what they need in order to come away with fantasy baseball championships in the remaining days of the season.Plus Chris Solomon (Soly) of 'No Laying Up' joins the show to close the tab on the 2026 Reds. Beyond a pair of arm injuries for Hunter Greene, what else has kept the Reds from making another run to October this season? Looking forward, is there enough of a core in place with Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, Chase Burns, and Greene to build for the immediate future during the winter?Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!Rundown00:41 The Braves Clinch NL East: Seventh Title in Nine Years02:13 Tyler Mahle: An Overlooked Trade Addition?09:22 Jesús Luzardo: Plays Catch, Could Return in Bullpen Role11:47 Alex Bregman: Day-to-Day After Getting Hit by Foul Ball13:04 The Red Sox Clinch Wild Card: Historical Comeback From 32-46 Start16:02  Félix Bautista: Returns After Second Lengthy Absence17:56  Four-Team Battle for Three Remaining Spots?21:22 AD BREAK21:27  Where the Money Went & Final Week Needs32:16 Coming Up: Closing the Tab, 2026 Reds w/Soly32:20 Welcome, Soly! (Chris Solomon, No Laying Up)32:59 Closing the Tab: A Hunter Greene Season They Couldn’t Afford37:20 Long-Term Lineup Issue: Why Do the Reds’ Lineups Lag?43:18  Another Brutal Trade: Mike Sirota Blossoms in LA46:10  Time for More Changes? Is Tito Still the Right Fit in Cincinnati?49:15  Can They Build Around and Win With Elly De La Cruz? 52:21 Beyond the Core: Flaws Up and Down 55:13 Pitching Rebounds? Can Nick Lodolo Bounce Back in 2027?1:05:23  A Puzzling Decision: Why Did CES Get DFA’d?First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsRates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: Matthew Chilelli#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Reds #FantasyBaseball #RatesAndBarrels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Lineup00:37 Welcome to Starkville 8:33 UP NEXT: TONY GWYNN JR. AND MARK GRANT5:33 Padres - What Happened?17:05 Are San Diego Fans Spoiled By AJ?23:26 Stand out Teams for Mark and Tony25:09 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 Impression38:39 UP NEXT: STRANGE BUT TRUE38:47 Strange But True Trey and Brady Ebel finish the same at-batFollow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.socialFollow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.socialE-mail: [email protected] Hotline: (347) 313-8371Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Jayson Stark & Doug GlanvilleWith: Tony Gwynn Jr. & Mark GrantProducer: 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.Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: [email protected] our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsRates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis#MLB #FantasyBaseball #WaiverWire #MLBProspects #RatesAndBarrels00:00 Intro00:34 Baseball News You Should Know00:59 Could Garrett Crochet Join Boston’s Bullpen?02:24 Willson Contreras Day-to-Day With Bruised Hand05:33 Nationals in Extension Talks With Cade Cavalli07:14 How Cade Cavalli Changed His Arsenal09:21 MLB’s Biggest Strikeout-Rate Risers11:43 Walbert Ureña’s Breakout Rookie Season14:36 Jared Young Injured in Scary Collision15:55 Latest Developments Surrounding Mark Walter18:10 Mailbag18:24 What Happened to Dillon Dingler?21:24 How Could a Delayed 2027 Season Impact Pitchers?26:53 The Fantasy Player You Can Never Get Right29:38 DVR’s Cam Smith Problem32:07 How to Handle Frustrating Fantasy Players35:17 Sage Performance Review35:39 Surprise Hitters of the Last 30 Days37:40 The Hottest Pitchers of the Last 30 Days41:11 Final Weekend Waiver Preview41:37 Late-Season Starting Pitcher Adds47:43 Final Waiver Wire Hitters48:04 Griffin Conine Is Getting an Extended Look50:01 Middle Infield Waiver Options52:28 Late-Season Outfield Adds53:12 Is Jonah Cox a 2027 Sleeper?54:22 Henry Bolte & Victor Mesa Jr.56:12 Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment!First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsRates & Barrels MERCH: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisExecutive Producer: McEnroe FrancisEditor: McEnroe Francis#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Mariners #FantasyBaseball #RatesAndBarrels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.