Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball Spring Eno Returns + Dodgers & Phillies Team Previews
Mar 4, 2026
Matt Gelb, Phillies beat writer who breaks down pitching and prospect outlooks. Katie Woo, Dodgers beat writer who analyzes lineup, rotation, and bullpen construction. They discuss Dodgers’ lineup juggling, load management, and bullpen/rotation questions. They also cover Phillies’ rotation depth, Andrew Painter’s ceiling, Zack Wheeler’s recovery, and bullpen reinforcements.
AI Snips
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Transcript
Episode notes
Roki Sasaki Needs Command Not Just Ceiling
- Katie said the Dodgers plan to use Roki Sasaki as a starter but his second-year success hinges on command and possibly adding a third pitch.
- She argued if Sasaki struggles, optioning him to AAA to rebuild is better long-term than converting him to a reliever.
Phillies Kept Core And Expect Incremental Youth
- Matt Gelb described the Phillies as similar to last year but younger marginally; they kept Schwarber and Realmuto and replaced Castellanos with Adolis García.
- He noted internal confidence is higher than external impatience among fans.
Phillies Pressure Points Are Rotation And Outfield
- Matt identified rotation depth and outfield as the Phillies' primary pressure points that could determine whether they repeat as division champions.
- He stressed both areas are addressable at the deadline but present near-term risk.