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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, th...
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · June 2026
Rates & Barrels turns baseball skills, roles, injuries, and draft prices into practical roster decisions.
Rates & Barrels belongs in Sports for baseball listeners who want the game broken down through draft rooms, roster questions, player valuation, and team previews.
You want pitcher tiers, ADP nerves, and one more Caleb Durbin chair in your pocket.
Press play if you want
Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
An AL preview that mixes division and award picks with roster news and fantasy angles.
Rates and Barrels opens with an American League preview, then moves through division winners, wild cards, and award picks before landing on a bit of baseball news, including Pete Crow Armstrong's new deal with the Cubs.
A focused pre-draft guide to positional cliffs and catcher tiers.
Rates and Barrels uses the pre-draft window to sort out positional shape and tier breaks, showing where small ranking gaps can swing a draft room.
A draft-room episode that treats player movement as a clue to value and organizational judgment.
The episode uses Tout Wars weekend as a clean way to talk about player value and how the market reacts in real time. Chandler Simpson's slide is the clearest warning sign, while Caleb Durbin's rise gives the hosts a case for trusting organizational judgment when the room starts…
A sharp look at how tournament baseball choices get made when every arm matters.
World Baseball Classic preview here is less interested in bracket drama than in whether the U.S. arms can keep their edge once mistakes start costing runs.
Astros injuries and an 84.6-win projection drive most of the episode.
Rates and Barrels starts with opening-day status updates, then settles into the Astros' 84.6-win projection. Derek Van Ryper and Eno Saris work through the pitcher's shoulder history, the new bicep concern, and Brian Abreu as a temporary Houston fallback before making the case…
Spring-game catch-up and three team previews keep the pace brisk.
Baseball moves in two lanes here: league spring-game catch-up, then a preview stretch that lands on the Yankees, the A's, and the 2026 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
A smart weekend baseball check-in, with its best stretch in the Shota Imanaga health discussion.
Rates & Barrels uses its Friday episode to catch listeners up on the key news before the weekend, then moves into Cubs, Reds, and Padres previews with enough baseball detail to stay useful.
A process-first preview that is strongest when it turns Washington's young bats into the central question.
Rates and Barrels uses the Rangers, Nationals, and White Sox as the day's preview slate, but it settles into Washington for the best stretch of the episode. The conversation keeps coming back to the same question: which young hitters are ready to turn talent into production?
Nebraska athletics, close up and week by week.
Derek Van Ryper and Eno Saris keep pitcher week rolling with the second half of their starting-pitcher preview.
Rates and Barrels stays in team-preview mode and works through the Red Sox, Tigers, and Twins.
Rates & Barrels hosts Derek Van Ryper and Eno Saris evaluate 2026 outfielders drafted around picks 225-250 in NFBC leagues, including Kerry Carpenter, Jordan Beck, Anthony Santander, and Trent Grisham.
Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball evaluates the top 25 to 30 starting pitchers for 2026 fantasy drafts using NFBC average draft position and Eno's projections.
Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball previews 2026 relief pitchers through NFBC ADP, emphasizing why closers can reach rounds two and three in draft-and-hold leagues.
Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball examines why the World Baseball Classic is making March baseball unusually competitive, including two walk-off homers on one Saturday.
Tony Clark is expected to resign as MLBPA executive director after reporting from Ken Rosenthal, Andy McCullough, and Evan Drellick, and Derek Van Ryper and Eno Saris connect that move to the Eastern District of New York probe and the looming CBA fight.
Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball evaluates first- and second-round outfielders in the 2026 fantasy baseball draft, beginning with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Corbin Carroll, Ronald Acuna Jr., Julio Rodriguez, and Fernando Tatis Jr.
Derek Van Ryper and Eno Sarris use PECOTA projections to evaluate the National League, including Atlanta at 89.3 projected wins, the Mets at 89, and Philadelphia at 85.
Derek Van Ryper and Eno Saris assess how the World Baseball Classic affects spring-training evaluations, using Julio Rodriguez, Ha-Seong Kim, and the Red Sox outfield as examples of players gaining or losing camp opportunities.
Rates & Barrels hosts Derek Van Ryper and Trevor May examine Venezuela's first World Baseball Classic championship after Eduardo Rodriguez threw four and one-third scoreless innings against Team USA.
Jason Stark and Doug Glanville kick off a new season of Starkville, now part of the Rates & Barrels show, discussing baseball and their return.
The episode discusses tough pitcher rankings, Out of the Park Baseball, and weekend waiver targets, with a segment on Yankees manager Aaron Boone's approach to aggressive at-bat strategies.
The episode discusses closer meltdowns in non-save situations, analyzes three rookie starting pitchers, and covers Noelvi Marte's demotion to AAA.
The episode covers Jackie Robinson's legacy, a contract extension for Kevin McGonigal, and a deep dive into three games including Noah Schultz's debut.
The hosts discuss a historic night of home runs in MLB, a rough outing for Garrett Crochet, and early season statistical trends.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris discuss recent MLB action, including Fernando Tatis Jr.
Fantasy baseball show discussing waiver wire pickups, MLB news, and a hot dog review segment.
The hosts discuss a new pitch pairing tool from Fangraphs and analyze a recent MLB injury.
A baseball analysis podcast discussing MLB injury news and the baseball card market.
The hosts analyze opening day performances, focusing on Logan Webb's struggles and Netflix's broadcast innovations.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris discuss how they manage 30 fantasy baseball teams while keeping up with daily MLB action, using opening day as a case study.
The hosts break down American League divisions, predicting winners like the Mariners and Tigers while debating playoff contenders.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris host a fantasy baseball cram session, offering last-minute draft advice ahead of the season.
Three baseball analysts conduct an experimental 'projections draft' where they try to beat Steamer WAR projections by finding undervalued players.
The hosts discuss the World Baseball Classic final, analyzing Italy's inspiring run and predicting outcomes for the USA-Venezuela matchup.
Derek and Eno recap thrilling World Baseball Classic games, including a controversial umpire call that sparks debate on automated strike zones.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris cover fantasy baseball news, including injury updates on Blake Snell and Josh Hader, analysis of ADP data from listener leagues, and draft fixers for steals and closers.
The hosts preview the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, analyzing matchups like Dominican Republic vs.
The hosts analyze Italy's shocking win over Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, breaking down the tiebreaker scenarios that could eliminate Team USA.
The hosts and guest Britt Ghiroli discuss the World Baseball Classic and its comparison to Olympic baseball, covering topics like viewership differences, player insurance challenges, and the emotional stories behind international competitions.
The hosts discuss Hunter Greene's elbow injury and its implications, Jorge Profar's PED suspension, and Starling Marte's impact on the Royals.
Derek VanRiper and guest Stephen Nesbitt preview the 2026 World Baseball Classic, discussing the tournament format, team rosters, and key storylines like insurance issues affecting player participation.
Derek VanRiper previews three MLB teams—Mets, Blue Jays, and Guardians—with beat writers Tim Britton, Mitch Bannon, and Zach Meisel.
The hosts analyze Max Scherzer's new contract with the Blue Jays and discuss key spring training trends, including pitching philosophy shifts and stolen base strategies.
Eno Sarris and Jed Lowrie analyze the expected impact of the Automated Ball-Strike System, discussing error rates and which pitchers might be most affected.
The hosts discuss spring training games and continue their team preview series, focusing on the Yankees, Athletics, and Angels.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris discuss key MLB news, including injury updates for pitchers like Blake Snell and Brandon Woodruff, then interview Astros beat writer Chandler Rome for a team preview.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris catch up on MLB news including Jordan Westberg's UCL injury and fantasy implications, then preview the Cubs and Reds with beat writers Sahadev Sharma and C.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris preview the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Miami Marlins, focusing on key players, offseason moves, and fantasy sleepers.
The hosts preview the Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and Chicago White Sox, analyzing key players, offseason moves, and win projections.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris preview the 2026 MLB season for the Diamondbacks, Braves, and Royals, discussing key injuries like Pablo Lopez's elbow, fantasy sleepers such as Brandon Pfaadt, and analytical concepts like the 'rule of five' for playing time.
The hosts analyze the release of Nick Castellanos by the Phillies, detailing the dugout incident with a beer and its impact on his career.
Former MLB pitcher Trevor May joins Derek Van Ryper and Eno Sarish to break down spring training's biggest stories, from Garrett Crochet's new changeup to MLB's latest rule enforcement attempt.
The hosts discuss early spring training injuries, focusing on hamate bone issues affecting players like Corbin Carroll and Francisco Lindor, and analyze recovery timelines.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris conclude their 2026 starting pitcher preview series, analyzing pitchers drafted outside the top 250 in fantasy baseball.
The hosts discuss MLB news including Framber Valdez signing with the Tigers and Tarik Skubal's arbitration win, then interview Jordan Rosenblum on the Oopsie projection system and Jeff Zimmerman on health grades for pitchers.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris continue their 2026 starting pitcher preview, analyzing Tier 4B and 5A pitchers drafted between picks 175-250.
The hosts analyze fantasy baseball value for UT-only and outfield players, focusing on Shohei Ohtani's top ranking, risks with Kyle Schwarber and Yordan Alvarez, and sleeper picks like Cam Smith and Jacob Melton.
The hosts discuss José Ramírez's contract extension with the Guardians and analyze the trade-off between power and contact in hitting, focusing on low zone contact hitters like O'Neill Cruz.
Keith Law joins Rates & Barrels to break down his latest Top 100 Prospects list, discussing standout players like Conor Griffin, team strategies for player development, and trends in MLB scouting and trades.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris continue their 2026 outfield preview series, analyzing players drafted outside the top 100.
The hosts analyze three major MLB trades: MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers, Freddy Peralta to the Mets, and Cody Bellinger re-signing with the Yankees.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris analyze first base prospects for the 2026 MLB season, focusing on fantasy baseball drafting strategies.
The hosts discuss the Mets' recent moves, including trading for Luis Robert and signing Bo Bichette to play third base, analyzing their potential impacts.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris preview the catcher position for the 2026 fantasy baseball season, analyzing top players like Cal Raleigh, William Contreras, and breakout candidates.
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris preview the 2026 second base landscape for fantasy baseball, analyzing players from top tiers like Jazz Chisholm Jr.
This emergency podcast analyzes the Dodgers' signing of Kyle Tucker and a three-team trade involving the Angels, Rays, and Reds.
Recap of MLB wildcard round and preview of division series matchups, with analysis of standout performances.