World Series Reliever Rankings & Critical Matchups

Eno and DVR are back from First Pitch Arizona with a flurry of early offseason updates including a shoulder procedure for Shohei Ohtani, a closer look at Roki Sasaki's pitch mix after his 2024 campaign in NPB, expectations that Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider won't be ready for Opening Day in 2025, plus a trade, a new contract for Michael Wacha, and the path for Jeff Hoffman to return to a starting role once he finds a new club in free agency.  Rundown 2:01 Shohei Ohtani's Undergoes Left Shoulder (Labrum) Surgery 12:17 How Many Players Have Old Injuries to Manage? 21:50 Roki Sasaki Nearing a Decision for 2025 Plans 30:57 Spencer Strider & Ronald Acuña Jr.: Unlikely for Opening Day 38:00 Jorge Soler Traded to Anaheim for Jorge Soler 49:08 David Fry Undergoes UCL Surgery 51:16 Extensions, Options & Opt-Outs 1:11:14 Willson Contreras to First Base & Position/Role Change Rumblings 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 are live at First Pitch Arizona. Max Bay, parent of Stuff+ joins the show to discuss a few changes with the latest update to the model. Danny Kirwin and Cooper Adams from the Red Sox organization stop by to discuss their path as undrafted college players into Boston's system and into the Arizona Fall League. Plus, Eno and DVR discuss a few of the biggest surprises relative to the Stuff+ model in 2024, and their preferred roster construction strategies as the 2025 fantasy baseball draft season gets underway. Rundown 1:02 Is DIPS Theory Dead? 9:46 Looking Beyond the Projections & Models for an Edge 11:56 Predicting the Next Iteration of Changes to Stuff+ 18:59 Danny Kirwin & Cooper Adams Join the Show 23:31 How Did Tread Help Danny & Cooper Make the Leap From College to Signing with Boston? 29:26 Unique Challenges in the Arizona Fall League 34:06 The Biggest Movers in the Updated Stuff+ Model 43:03 What Is Your Ideal Roster Construction Approach as Draft Season Begins? 60:29 Considerations for Players Returning From Second Tommy John Surgery Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR discuss the Dodgers' series-clinching Game 5 victory over the Yankees that made them the 2024 World Series Champions, which featured a string of defensive miscues that opened the door for a five-run fifth, and a clean ninth inning from....Walker Buehler?! Plus, they look ahead to busy offseasons for both clubs as the Dodgers weigh options for a few potential upgrades, and the Yankees prepare to make a massive offer to retain Juan Soto.  Rundown 1:18 The Dodgers' Pitching Staff Had Just Enough in the Tank 7:33 One Brutal Inning for the Yankees' Defense 15:20 The Yankees' Need for More Bullpen Depth in Future Postseasons 19:24 The Dodgers Have Taken Over Baseball's Death Star 30:06 Long-Term Concerns About Jack Flaherty's Velocity? 37:38 The Yankees' Offseason Plans & Juan Soto Watch 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 Anthony Volpe's huge Game 4 -- including a grand slam -- that may help the Yankees turn the World Series around as they continue to stave off elimination. Plus, they dig into several hitters that missed their 2024 season projections in both direction, looking for overperformers who had real breakouts, and underperformers with rebound potential in 2025.  Rundown 1:27 The Anthony Volpe Game & Volpe's Long-Term Ceiling 12:40 Austin Wells' Insurance Homer & Eighth-Inning Runs Saved Luke Weaver's Workload? 16:22 White Sox Hiring Will Venable as Manager; Offseason Targets? 26:58 Hitters that Missed Projections: Underperformers -- Long-Term Fallers, or Rebound Targets? 42:58 Hitters that Missed Projections: Overperformers -- Breakouts, or Players Bound for a Downturn in 2025? 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 the Dodgers' commanding lead over the Yankees after a 4-2 win in Game 3. Plus, they wonder if the TV strike-zone box is ready for an overhaul, and discuss why Brusdar Graterol doesn't strike more hitters out. Away from the World Series, they discuss several notable second-half performances including Blake Snell, Yusei Kikuchi and Hunter Brown with an eye toward early 2025 drafts. Rundown 3:55 Another Strong Start From Walker Buehler 10:29 A Closer Look at Strike Three Against Gleyber Torres in the Seventh Inning 18:02 The Multi-Year Success of Dodger Bullpen Games 26:25 Why Doesn't Brusdar Graterol Get More Strikeouts? 30:48 Giving Blake Snell & Gerrit Cole the SP1 Treatment in 2025? 43:41 Eno's Lingering Concerns About Kevin Gausman 47:55 Is Hunter Brown an SP2 Now? (Top 30 Pitcher) 53:36 Buying 2023-2024 Improvements From Yusei Kikuchi? 56:42 Second-Half Hitter Questions: Josh Lowe's K%, Lars Nootbaar's Health & Sean Murphy's Productivity 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

Eno and DVR discuss an eventful start to the World Series -- including Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam, and the Yankees' choice to use Nestor Cortes in that matchup -- long-term concerns about Shohei Ohtani's dislocated shoulder even if he's able to play in Game 3, and the postseason struggles of Aaron Judge. Plus, they look back at their second-half draft from July to discuss a few intriguing early-draft season targets including Luis Robert Jr., whose situation for 2025 would improve drastically if the White Sox opt to trade him.  Rundown 1:15 Freddie Freeman's Walk-Off Grand Slam 11:31 Yoshinobu Yamamoto's Game 2 Performance & Adjustments 21:01 Aaron Judge's October Woes 27:00 Long-Term Concerns About Shohei Ohtani's Shoulder? 36:54 Looking Back at Our Second-Half Rebound Draft 43:50 Luis Robert Jr. v. Brenton Doyle in 2025 51:45 Bo Bichette v. Luis García Jr. 57:58 David Fry, Sonny Gray & Ronny Mauricio Updates 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 Freddie Freeman Cover Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR preview the World Series matchup between the Yankees and Dodgers, examining the team's position player groups -- including defense and baserunning -- pitching, and the difficulty of game planning throughout the series. Plus, they share their predictions for series winner and series MVP. Rundown 1:32 The Lineups: Depth Will Be Under the Microscope Behind Stars 14:38 How Do the Yankees & Dodgers Stack Up Defensively? 24:05 Do the Dodgers Have a Significant Edge on the Basepaths? 27:55 Game-by-Game Starting Pitcher Outlook 33:52 The Challenge of Limiting Looks at Your Relievers 37:07 Game Planning Considerations for the Series 51:54 Predictions: Series Winner & MVP 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

Eno, DVR, Trevor discuss the passing of Fernando Valenzuela, whose dominant 1981 season led to Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award honors in the same campaign and spurred 'Fernandomania' in Los Angeles. Plus, they dig into reliever rankings for the World Series and critical matchups that each team will be focused on during the Fall Classic.  Rundown 0:59 Fernando Valenzuela Passes Away at Age 63 5:21 Reliever Rankings for the World Series: Who Is No. 1? 15:59 Evan Phillips' Difficult Matchup with the Yankees' Bats 20:12 Tommy Kahnle's Extremely Heavy Changeup Usage 28:08 The Yankees' Lack of Power Lefties in the Bullpen 37:27 Uncertainty Around Nestor Cortes Jr.'s Availability & Role 44:22 Critical Matchups That Could Swing the Series Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Trevor on Twitter: @IamTrevorMay e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris With: Trevor May Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss a few compelling things about this year's World Series matchup and wonder if this round of Yankees v. Dodgers is a 'Dream World Series'. Plus, they rank the starting pitchers that are likely to appear in the series and assess the overall strength of each team's rotation options. Beyond the World Series, they also discuss Britt's story about White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf considering a potential sale of the team, and the upgrades that might be on tap for a Cubs team seeking a return to the playoffs in 2025.  Rundown 1:14 Is This the 'Dream World Series'? 5:32 The Best World Series Money Can Buy? 13:03 What Compels You Most About Yankees-Dodgers? 23:21 Lining Up the Starters Around Expected Bullpen Games 28:28 Rankings the Starting Pitchers We'll See In This Series 42:56 Jerry Reinsdorf is Open to Selling the White Sox 51:12 Offseason Plans for the Cubs 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 look back at the conclusion of the LCS matchups as the Dodgers eliminated the Mets and the Yankees eliminated the Guardians to advance to the World Series over the weekend. They also examine a few potential offseason moves for the Mets and Guardians. Rundown 4:51 The Dodgers' Lack of Innings From Starters This Postseason 8:53 Reliever Third Time Penalties Raise Questions About Heavy Reliever Usage in Playoffs 14:56 Did We Underappreciate the Tommy Edman Deal? 19:48 Looking Ahead at the Mets' Offseason Plans 28:45 An ALCS That Delivered Plenty of Excitement 40:39 Juan Soto v. Hunter Gaddis in Game 5 of the ALCS 48:27 What's On Tap for the Guardians This Winter? 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