How to Keep Hitters Guessing

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the flaws for each of the 15 remaining teams in contention for the playoffs and explain why that could lead to their elimination (and share a few reasons why they could win the World Series). Does recent form even matter? If so, for how long? Does the Orioles' underwhelming second half mean more than the Royals' seven-game losing streak, or can teams turn everything around with a clean slate in October? Rundown 1:15 The Dodgers' Current Starting Pitching Options 5:06 Are The Phillies Ready to Finish the Job in 2024? 8:51 Is Starting Pitching Depth the Brewers' Biggest Weakness? 13:58 Could the Padres' Defense Lead to Their Playoff Demise? 17:47 Can the D-backs Continue to Outhit Their Pitching? 21:24 What Are Mets' Biggest Concerns Beyond Francisco Lindor's Health? 27:05 Is the Braves' Nightmare Simply Missing the Postseason? 29:48 Has the Gap Between the Yankees and Astros Closed Since the 2022 ALCS? 34:54 We Owe an Apology to the Guardians 39:49 What Are the Astros' Concerns Beyond the Yordan Alvarez Injury? 44:22 Macro View Problems for the Orioles 50:46 Are the Tigers Actually Good? 56:08 Beyond the Seven-Game Losing Streak, What Are You Worried About with the Royals? 1:01:34 Can The Twins Clear the Cobwebs? 1:07:07 It Would Be a Shame for the Mariners to Waste This Pitching Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghiroli e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris & Britt Ghiroli Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR discuss a few potential tweaks to the endgame of fantasy baseball season, which always brings a plethora of odd and challenging decisions. Plus, they look at the injury-hampered season of Rafael Devers, the second-half recovery from Eugenio Suárez, and the limited options available for the final week in draft-and-hold formats.  Rundown 3:53 Eno's H2H Lament 6:55 What Is the Ideal Endgame in Fantasy Baseball? 22:00 Rafael Devers' 2024 Season is Over 29:02 Eugenio Suárez's Massive Second Half 33:05 Staying Upright Until the End in Draft-and-Hold Leagues 42:05 Jonathan Aranda is Pulling Us Back in with a Nice September 51:59 Where the Money Went: Final Week Edition 54:32 Luke Weaver's Adjustments & 2025 Closer Outlook Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR discuss Shohei Ohtani's 50-50 campaign -- and the incredible performance he turned in Thursday to reach that milestone. Plus, they examine Bo Bichette's future outlook as his 2024 season has to come a close, before looking at the second-half K-BB% leaderboard. Rundown 2:03 Shohei Ohtani Creates the 50-50 Club 4:54 Where Does Thursday's Six-Hit, Two Homer Game Rank All Time? 10:00 Oh Yeah, He'll Pitch Again Next Year 16:10 Freezing Ohtani Takes (Including Our Own) 22:15 Bo Bichette's Disappointing 2024 Season is Over. What's Next? 34:02 Second Half K-BB% Leaderboard Surprises 47:38 Is Brandon Pfaadt the New Mitch Keller or Nick Pivetta? 55:45 Who Are You Targeting for the Final Week? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Producer: Brian Smith Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In their final regular season livestream of 2024, Eno, Trevor, and DVR have a draft of pitcher traits, in hopes of honing in on the most important qualities for a pitcher to have as foundational skills. Plus, they discuss Kumar Rocker and 'The Death Ball' and whether the Splinker is actually a real pitch. This week's show will also feature a special edition of 'Name That Dude'! Rundown 1:31 The Brewers Clinch Their Fourth NL Central Title in Six Season 5:55 Craig Kimbrel DFA'd By Orioles; Is He Cooperstown Bound? 15:42 Does Kumar Rocker Throw 'The Death Ball'? 28:18 Are Splinkers Real? 40:00 Build a Pitcher: Our 2024 Draft 58:26 Name That Dude! Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Trevor on Twitter: @IAmTrevorMay e-mail: [email protected] Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris With: Trevor May Producer: Brian Smith Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the possibility of having separate Rookie of the Year awards for hitters and pitchers in future seasons, and the difficulty of making choices in this year ROY races. Plus, they discuss the unusual story of Matt Chapman's extension with the Giants going through Buster Posey, the second-half struggles of the Orioles, and whether there is any meaningful link between September rotation results and October performance.  Rundown 1:00 DVR's Case for Splitting Up Rookie of the Year Awards for Hitters and Pitchers 6:34 Varying WAR Across Different Sites (FanGraphs, Baseball Reference and Baseball Prospectus) 13:40 Looking for Value Beyond the Numbers 20:09 Ceddanne Rafaela's Rookie Campaign 26:04 Buster Posey's Role in Matt Chapman's Extension with the Giants 38:01 Making Sense of the Orioles' Second-Half Slide 51:48 Does Late-Season Rotation Form Matter? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghiroli e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us Thursday at 1p ET/10a PT for our weekly live episode with Trevor May! Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris & Britt Ghiroli Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Jackson Merrill Cover Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports Mason Miller Cover Photo: Eakin Howard/Getty Images Paul Skenes Cover Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR discuss Tyler Glasnow's sprained elbow -- and the likelihood that his 2024 season is now over. How much will Glasnow's risk-reward profile shift in the wake of another problematic ailment? Plus, is it time to re-evaluate Julio Rodríguez's status as an early first-round pick on the heels of a disappointing season in Year 3 with the Mariners, or does the ceiling he's flashes in his first two campaigns keep him in the conversation as a top-five pick in 2025?  Rundown 3:24 Tyler Glasnow's 2024 Season is Likely Over 10:52 Awaiting Francisco Lindor's MRI Results 13:33 Is It Time to Re-Assess Julio Rodríguez's Early First-Round Status? 26:56 Long-Term: Spencer Arrighetti v. Hayden Birdsong 34:39 Heliot Ramos' History-Making Homer at Oracle 40:51 Kumar Rocker and Jacob deGrom Fetch (Some) Big Bids Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Thursdays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR discuss Corey Seager's season-ending surgery and long-term outlook, Kumar Rocker's debut, and an impressive rotation coming together for the Rangers in 2025. Plus, they crowdsource some of the biggest risers among prospects from several members of The Athletic's MLB staff, and discuss a few intriguing names to consider on the waiver wire this weekend. Rundown 5:58 Corey Seager to Have Season-Ending Hernia Surgery 11:26 Kumar Rocker Debuts, Jacob deGrom Nears Return 19:55 Twins Minor League Catcher Derek Bender Released for Giving Away Pitches 26:27 Project Prospect: (Some) of the Biggest Risers of 2024 33:40 Position Players Reaching Double-A At Age-18 or Younger 42:59 Carlson Reed: Another Pirates Pitching Prospect to Monitor 55:27 Two More Rising Bats 1:01:34 Weekend Waiver Wire Preview Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Thursdays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno, Trevor and DVR consider a few ways that pitchers could keep hitters guessing more often, a question about the possibility of great command being a detriment, unusual training methods and tools, and whether it would be more surprising to see the Tigers make the playoffs -- or -- for the Braves to miss them. Plus, it's Round 3 of Name That Dude! Rundown 0:59 Using Game Theory for Pitch Sequencing? 9:18 Random Number Generating A Game Plan While Accounting for Known Useful Information 19:50 Can Great Command Be a Detriment? 31:17 What Unusual Training Methods and Tech Have You Seen? 40:39 Let’s Talk About Toe Yoga! 53:41 More Surprising: Tigers Making Playoffs - or - Braves Missing Them? 1:05:50 Name That Dude! Follow Eno @enosarris Follow Trevor @IamTrevorMay Follow DVR @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris With: Trevor May Producer: Brian Smith Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the return of Jasson Dominguez for the stretch run, Kumar Rocker's upcoming debut with the Rangers, and the Mets' continued presence in the NL Wild Card race. Plus, they'll discuss the Twins' untimely tailspin, the Royals' rise under J.J. Picollo, and how the current struggles of Justin Verlander might shape the Astros' playoff rotation plans.  Rundown 1:19 Jasson Dominguez Rejoins the Yankees 8:05 Kumar Rocker to Make MLB Debut on Thursday 13:30 The Mets' Continued Presence in the NL Wild Card Race 26:04 Can the Twins Disrupt Their Tailspin? 39:39 The Royals' Rise Under J.J. Picollo  55:41 Justin Verlander and the Astros' Playoff Rotation Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghiroli e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us Thursday at 1p ET/10a PT for our weekly live episode with Trevor May! Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris & Britt Ghiroli Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR discuss an adjustment from Luis Castillo that might help to prolong his peak in 2025 and beyond in the wake of a hamstring injury that could cost him time down the stretch. Plus, they discuss several new relievers in the mix for saves in September, streaming pitchers to consider in the final month, and a few weekend waiver-wire adjustments.  Rundown 4:10 Luis Castillo's Hamstring Injury & Slider Adjustment 9:23 Jesus Tinoco Joins Late-Season Saves Mix 15:50 Nestor Cortes Jr. Follows Clarke Schmidt; Six-Man Rotation for Now? 21:58 September Streamer Watch 33:57 Increasing Trust in David Peterson 42:07 Is There Anything Behind Elly De La Cruz's Home/Road Splits? 45:44 Pitch Tipping v. Other External Cues (Astros Trash Can Banging) 54:50 Where the Money Went: Trevor Story is Back! Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Thursday at 1p ET/10a PT for our next livestream episodes! Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices