Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball
The Athletic
In baseball, numbers are everywhere. But they’re not just numbers. For Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris, they’re the keys to solving the most fun problem in sports.Every weekday, join DVR and Eno as they unpack baseball in ways you’ve never heard before, endeavoring to figure out all they can about a sport that’s constantly changing. Alongside contributors Britt Ghiroli, Trevor May and Jed Lowrie, the Rates & Barrels crew breaks down all the latest MLB news through an analytical lens, feeding your unhealthy addiction to numbers, while helping you master your fantasy baseball GM skills. But wait, there's more: come back for Saturday mornings in Starkville, where Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville talk to some of the most important players, coaches, and thought leaders in the league. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
6 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 10min
Projections Are a Liar Sometimes!
They debate spring injury updates and what Gerrit Cole’s return means for rotations. They run a plus-minus hitter draft targeting players likely to outpace projections. Big-name picks, sleeper longshots, and defensive value battles fuel lively arguments about playing time and upside.
Mar 18, 2026 • 1h 15min
Venezuela Brings Home the WBC Title & Best Organizations for Pitching Development
Lance Brozdowski, a player development analyst who researches pitching development and acquisition, joins to discuss his pitching development survey and organizational rankings. He breaks down which teams are improving, how quickly development can turn around, metrics for minor-league pitching success, and several rising pitching prospects and dynasty sleepers.
Mar 18, 2026 • 56min
Arrivederci, Italia, Predicting the Headlines from the WBC Final & Britt's Breakouts
Britt Ghiroli, veteran baseball reporter with on-the-ground WBC and spring training access, recaps Italy’s run and the semifinal loss. She predicts likely headlines from the WBC final. Britt names three 2026 breakout players—two hitters and a pitcher—and assesses whether the Padres’ rotation can survive Musgrove opening on the IL.
9 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 1h 22min
Are You Ready For ABS Now? Sleeper Starting Pitchers & Spring Injury News
Niv Shah, founder of Ottoneu and fantasy platform expert, joins to break down sleeper starting pitchers, spring injury updates, and which players are heating up on auction platforms. Multiple short takes cover Cody Ponce’s KBO translation, Harry Ford’s upside as a cheap catcher, relievers getting draft love, and intriguing matchups at Nationals Park.
Mar 13, 2026 • 1h 32min
Fantasy Baseball Fixers, Listener League ADP & Catching Up w/Ron Shandler
Ron Shandler, fantasy baseball innovator and founder of Baseball HQ, talks game design and draft tools. He describes reimagining fantasy formats, why monthly salary-cap contests work, and how to get owners to try new formats. He also shares his preferred draft-day tools and names a few undervalued players he’s been targeting this draft season.
Mar 12, 2026 • 49min
Italy Rolls Into the WBC Quarterfinals, Can They Win It All?
Stephen Nesbitt, baseball writer and analyst, offers game-by-game commentary and knockout previews. They break down Italy’s surprise run and why their depth matters. They preview matchups like Korea vs Dominican, USA vs Canada, Puerto Rico vs Italy, and Venezuela vs Japan. Final predictions for who could win the tournament are shared.
Mar 11, 2026 • 1h 3min
Italy Stuns Team USA, Jesús Luzardo Gets an Extension & The Cost of Wins
They recap Italy's shocking win over Team USA and the tiebreaker drama it creates. They cover Hunter Greene's surgery and who might fill the Reds rotation. They discuss Jesús Luzardo's five-year, $135M extension and what it means for Philly. They examine the rising dollars-per-WAR and how the cost of wins is reshaping free agency.
Mar 10, 2026 • 52min
The World Baseball Classic is Great, Can Olympic Baseball Be Even Better?
Britt Ghiroli, veteran baseball reporter who covered the Winter Olympics, shares on-the-ground perspective about international competition. She talks about Ondřej Satoria’s WBC heroics, key WBC matchups and tiebreaker drama, the WBC as an Olympic qualifying path, and practical ways MLB could enable major leaguers to play in the 2028 Olympics.
Mar 9, 2026 • 56min
The World Baseball Classic is Delivering!
Dramatic World Baseball Classic moments get play-by-play, including walk-off homers and surprising teams. A sharp focus on pitching depth and overlooked international talent. Spring headlines cover injuries, velocity swings, and breakout outings from prospects. A surprise Stuff+ leaderboard spotlights lesser-known pitchers making noise.
12 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 1h
Elbow Trouble for an Ace & The Importance of Contact Point
They dig into an ace’s lingering elbow soreness and what multiple evaluations might mean for his season. A repeat PED positive and its roster fallout get scrutiny. Starling Marte’s fit in Kansas City and outfield/DH scenarios are debated. New hitting metrics like max bat speed and the trickiness of contact point drive a discussion on measurement, swing intent, and training bleed into live at-bats.
