Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

The 2026 MLB Wild Card Day 1 is in the books and what a day it was— Rates & Barrels will be back with you LIVE to break down everything from Day 2 of the Wild Card Series.

Join DVR and Eno during the 7th inning of the final game of the day as they recap all four Wild Card matchups, react to the biggest performances and turning points, and break down what's next for each series.

Which teams put themselves in position to advance? What did we learn from the pitching matchups? Which decisions could shape the rest of the Wild Card round? And what should we be watching when the teams get back on the field Thursday?

Bring your questions and reactions to the chat as we recap Day 2 and get you ready for Day 3 of the MLB postseason.

Like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss our LIVE Wild Card coverage Wednesday and Thursday.

#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #WildCard #Postseason #Baseball #RatesAndBarrels
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The 2026 MLB Playoffs are underway — and Rates & Barrels went LIVE to break down a wild Day 1 of the Wild Card Series.

DVR and Eno recap all four Wild Card Game 1s, reacting to the biggest performances, turning points and decisions that shaped the opening day of the MLB postseason.

Austin Riley delivered a huge three-run homer to lift Atlanta past Philadelphia, the White Sox knocked off Houston, the Yankees shut out Boston in the Bronx, and Michael King dominated as San Diego rolled past the Cubs.

What did we learn from the pitching matchups? Which Game 1 performances are sustainable? And what adjustments do the Phillies, Astros, Red Sox and Cubs need to make with their seasons now on the line?

DVR and Eno break it all down and preview Wednesday’s four Game 2 matchups.

Bring your questions and reactions to the chat, and make sure to like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss our LIVE Wild Card coverage Wednesday and Thursday.

#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #WildCard #Postseason #Baseball #RatesAndBarrels
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The 2026 MLB Wild Card Series is here.

DVR and Eno break down all four Wild Card matchups before Tuesday's postseason quadruple-header, digging into the key stats, pitching matchups and tactical advantages that could decide each best-of-three series.

Can the Phillies finally get their offense going against Chris Sale and the Braves? Philadelphia had to push all the way through the final day of the regular season, leaving its pitching plan complicated for Game 1.

The surprising White Sox head to Houston to face an Astros team with plenty of October experience — but major questions in its starting rotation. Could the power in these two lineups turn White Sox-Astros into the highest-scoring series of the Wild Card round?

The Yankees and Red Sox renew their rivalry in the Bronx. Boston brings one of the most left-handed pitching staffs we've seen in the postseason, creating fascinating lineup decisions for New York — while Aaron Judge's availability remains one of the biggest questions entering the series.

Finally, the Cubs travel to San Diego for a rematch of last year's Wild Card Series. Chicago has one of the best offenses in the postseason field, while the Padres counter with an elite bullpen and a lineup that could run directly into one of the Cubs' biggest defensive strengths.

Plus, DVR and Eno make their picks for all four Wild Card Series and look ahead to what the winners could face in the Division Series.

And join Rates & Barrels LIVE Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! We'll go live during the seventh inning of the final game of the night to recap the day's Wild Card action and preview what's coming next.

Like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss any of our postseason coverage.

#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #WildCard #Postseason #Baseball #RatesAndBarrels

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

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

00:00 2026 MLB Wild Card Preview
00:36 The Wild Card Round Is Here
01:31 Why Do So Few Wild Card Series Reach Game 3?
02:41 Phillies vs. Braves
03:32 What's Wrong With These Two Offenses?
07:41 Chris Sale Gives Atlanta the Game 1 Edge
08:31 How Will Philadelphia Handle Its Pitching?
09:51 Who Wins Phillies-Braves?
11:44 Who Would the Dodgers Rather Face?
13:16 Rates & Barrels LIVE Wild Card Coverage
13:53 BREAK
14:36 White Sox vs. Astros
14:59 Houston's Starting Pitching Problem
16:16 How Should Chicago Pitch Yordan Alvarez?
18:30 Could This Series Become a Track Meet?
19:53 Can the Young White Sox Handle October?
22:18 Houston's Huge Premium-Velocity Advantage
23:22 Is This the Series Most Likely to Reach Game 3?
24:16 Who Would Cleveland Rather Face?
26:23 Who Wins White Sox-Astros?
27:08 Red Sox vs. Yankees
27:31 Boston's Historic Left-Handed Pitching Staff
28:34 How Do the Yankees Adjust to All Those Lefties?
32:23 Does Boston's Handedness Close the Pitching Gap?
33:48 Boston's Elite Bullpen
34:34 Who Wins Red Sox-Yankees?
35:39 BREAK
36:00 Cubs vs. Padres
36:19 Can Chicago Hit San Diego's Pitching?
38:55 Will Ground Balls Sink the Padres?
42:53 Why the Cubs' Offense Is Built for October
44:48 Who Wins Cubs-Padres?
46:41 Who Would the Rays Rather Face?
47:25 Who Would the Brewers Rather Face?
48:35 LIVE Wild Card Coverage This Week
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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-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

00:00 2026 MLB Playoff Preview
00:49 Does the Regular Season Matter in October?
05:42 Breaking Down All 12 Playoff Teams
06:05 Milwaukee Brewers: The NL’s No. 1 Seed
10:58 Can Milwaukee Handle Premium Velocity?
13:18 Why the Brewers’ Offense Works
17:14 Los Angeles Dodgers: Can They Three-Peat?
20:27 The Dodgers’ Ridiculous Pitching Depth
23:43 Atlanta Braves: How Dangerous Are They?
29:47 BREAK
30:28 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 Games
38:11 Chicago Cubs: Elite Offense, Pitching Questions
41:06 Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 40-40 Season
43:44 Philadelphia Phillies: Can the Offense Wake Up?
46:54 Philly’s Problem Against Premium Velocity
49:14 How Do the Phillies Handle Game 1?
51:51 BREAK
52:13 Tampa Bay Rays: The AL’s No. 1 Seed
56:15 Why Tampa Bay’s Lineup Is So Pesky
1:01:32 Cleveland Guardians: Better Than Last Year?
1:05:58 Houston Astros: An 81-81 Division Champion
1:08:05 Can Houston’s Rotation Survive October?
1:11:01 New York Yankees: The AL’s Best Rotation?
1:13:51 The Aaron Judge Question
1:17:04 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 Weapon
1:24:47 Chicago White Sox: October’s Surprise Team
1:26:07 Can Chicago’s Young Pitching Hold Up?
1:29:46 DVR & Eno Make Their Playoff Predictions
1:30:20 Who Wins the AL Pennant?
1:30:50 Who Wins the NL Pennant?
1:31:38 World Series Picks
1:32:25 World Series MVP Picks
1:33:47 Final Thoughts
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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 Lineup
00:48 Welcome to Starkville
07:31 LVP Awards
14:18 UP NEXT
14:22 Pat Murphy
15:13 Maintaining Pitching Continuity
17:35 Brewers and Home Runs
20:29 Winning In October
24:40 Tough Conversations
26:16 Leadership Style
27:33 Not Satisfied Yet
29:41 “No One Believes in Us” Tactic
32:54 Jacob Misiorowski’s Ascendance
38:41 Impact Outside of Milwaukee?
41:09 Passion for Mentorship
45:36 Pocket Pancakes
46:58 UP NEXT
47:07 Strange But True

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
Thumbnail Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
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